South Carolina football: Top recruits in program history
By Jacob Elsey
Pickens signed with Will Muschamp’s 2018 class, headlining a group that ranked 21st in the nation. The South Carolina native was considered the eighth best prospect at the high school ranks, and the country’s top defensive tackle.
Pickens chose to play for the Gamecocks over in-state rival Clemson, jumping right into a starting role in his freshman year.
Now a Junior, the lineman has racked up 51 tackles and a sack over his first two seasons. He should be a major player along the South Carolina front seven next year, teaming up with another big man that appears later on this list.
Lattimore is one of the most popular players in South Carolina football history, and he also tops the list as the program’s top rated running back recruit. Rated a five-star prospect, the Byrnes High graduate chose the Gamecocks over Clemson and Auburn.
Lattimore was considered the nation’s top tailback, and the ninth best player in the nation, regardless of position.
As a freshman, he totaled 1,197 rushing yards and a school record 17 touchdowns on the ground, earning First-team All-America honors. Unfortunately, he had both his sophomore and junior seasons cut short due to severe knee injuries.
Despite the injuries, Lattimore finished his career with 2,677 rushing yards and program record 41 total touchdowns. He averaged 119 yards from scrimmage per game over his three-year stint, before being selected in the 2013 NFL Draft by the 49ers.