Top SC recruit Kam Pringle ready to reveal decision

The recruiting battle for offensive tackle Kam Pringle of Woodland is over.

The Woodland High School standout — considered by some as the state’s top prospect for the 2024 class and one of the nation’s best — is set to announce his college commitment Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. at his school. He has named a final six of South Carolina, Clemson, NC State, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida.

Pringle has made his decision and notified the school of his choice of his decision, according to Woodland coach Eddie Ford.

“I believe he’s relieved more so than happy,” Ford said. “It’s been a whirlwind for him. I don’t know how he stayed so levelheaded.”

Coaches rolled through Woodland this past week. They couldn’t talk to Pringle, per NCAA rules, but they could see him and be seen by him.

Ford said USC coach Shane Beamer and his entire offensive staff came in. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and Mike Bobo, his quality control coach on offense, were in. Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel came through with his offensive line coach. Also stopping in were N.C. State offensive line coach Garrett Tujague and Wake Forest associate head coach Kevin Higgins.

No coaches from Clemson or Florida visited Pringle this week, and they were the other two programs on his short list.

From his conversations with Pringle, Ford believes he made his decision not on football factors alone.

“The environment,” Ford said. “He said it felt like home. I think he’ll be so relieved after Sunday. The traffic that’s been coming through the school for him has been crazy. Last spring evaluation period, every school in the SEC came through for him. Every school in the ACC came through, as well as a lot of in-state, Michigan, Stanford, Arizona State, it probably had to be 30 Power Five schools.”

Once Pringle makes his announcement Sunday, Ford said his recruiting will be finished.

“That’s what I told him. We had this conversation,” Ford said. “He wanted to do it early, but I said when you do it early, you’ve got to stick with it. It’s not like signing day and you’re going ahead and signing that day. It’s a long time, but he’s going to enroll early. A year from now, that’s where he’s going to be.”

This story was originally published January 18, 2023 at 9:32 AM.