South Carolina football: Top recruits in program history
By Jacob Elsey
The top recruits in South Carolina football history.
Another early signing period is upon us, as new head coach Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks look to salvage the 2021 class. The program’s current class ranks near the bottom of the SEC in both size and star power, though a few could surprise, like top passer Colten Gauthier.
While we’re excited to look ahead at the new signees, we also want to take a look back at the top recruits in South Carolina football history. This list includes a number of players that have gone on to successful professional careers, as well as a handful of prospects that played under Shane Beamer in his first stint with the Gamecocks.
Let’s start the countdown with the program’s fifth-highest rated signee.
Summers signed with Lou Holtz in the class of 2003, and was considered to be the top rusher in the nation coming out of Lexington High School, in a class that included eventual Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush. He was one of only six five-star signees to ever play for the Gamecocks, four of which you’ll see on this list.
The 6-foot-1 tailback was ranked as the ninth best prospect in all of high school football, and made an immediate impact in Columbia. As a freshman, he racked up 638 rushing yards, 146 receiving yards, 136 return yards, and five total touchdowns on his way to SEC All-freshman honors. He would lead the team in rushing as a sophomore, too.
Unfortunately, Summers would be dismissed from the team following his second season after failing a drug test, cutting a promising career short.