South Carolina football: Top recruits in program history
By Jacob Elsey
Burch signed with the Gamecocks in its most recent class, becoming the second-highest rated recruit in program history. The Columbia, SC native was ranked as the eighth best player in the country, and the second-best defensive tackle prospect.
Burch made an immediate impact with the Gamecocks in his freshman season, racking up 19 takedowns and a fumble recovery in 2020.
He’ll be expected to take on a significant role along the starting defensive line next year, and help improve a Gamecock pass rush that totaled 14 sacks over its 10-game season.
Clowney is not only the top rated recruit in South Carolina football history, he’s the top rated recruit ever. The defensive end from Rock Hill, SC was an impact player from start to finish during his three-year Gamecock career, racking up 24 sacks, 47 tackles for loss, and nine forced fumbles.
Clowney’s most dominant season came as a sophomore in 2012, when he led the nation in takedowns behind the line of scrimmage (23.5 TFL), and set a program record with 13 sacks. He ended the regular season by sacking Clemson quarterback Tahj Boyd 4.5 times, a number that is still said to be the most sacks recorded by a single player in a game played in Death Valley Stadium.
He followed that performance up by nearly beheading Michigan running back Vincent Smith in the bowl game with the “Hit heard around the world.” The defensive end would wind up finishing sixth in the Heisman voting that year, before finishing out his South Carolina tenure, and becoming the top overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.