South Carolina football: Tracking all signees in the early signing period

South Carolina football will sign the first members of its 2021 class this week.

South Carolina is in a period of transition, as they introduce new head coach Shane Beamer to the program amid the early signing period. Beamer’s first class will likely be small, as nearly half of the originally committed class bolted following Will Muschamp’s departure.

Still, a handful of commits are sticking it out, pledging allegiance to the university, rather than the leader at the helm.

All in all, it looks as if though the Gamecocks will have four prospects enroll early, with a few others intending to sign official letters of intent in the early signing period.

Stay tuned as we track Shane Beamer’s first class in Columbia.

7:30 AM – Gauthier became the first 2021 commit in the boat, signing his LOI early Wednesday morning. The quarterback prospect is rated as a four-star player by Rivals, and the 13th best signal caller in the country.

Gauthier is the top ranked player in the Gamecocks’ class of 2021, and could compete early with passers Ryan Hilinski and Luke Doty for playing time in the upcoming season.

8:30 AM – Dial, a defensive back from the Georgia Military College, becomes the second signee in the 2021 class. Originally from Woodruff, SC, the JUCO transfer returns to his home state to join the Gamecock program.

Last season at GMC, Dial tallied 11 tackles and a pick. He’s rated as the 48th best Junior College prospect in the country, and chose the Gamecocks over East Carolina.

10:00 AM – Davis becomes the third signee of the day, and the first along the offensive line. The Georgia native is considered to be a three-star prospect, and chose the Gamecocks over offers from Georgia Tech and Kansas.

11:00 AM – Reynolds joins the boat, becoming the fourth player to sign. The wide receiver from Alabama could wind up being a dynamic playmaker for the Gamecocks, with the potential to play a number of positions.

As a senior at Thompson High, Reynolds rushed for 291 yards and seven scores, while also hauling in 26 receptions for 465 yards and six more touchdowns. The performance helped his team win a state title.

Also a track athlete, Reynolds chose the Gamecocks over offers from Middle Tennessee State and West Virginia.

11:30 AM – Blake becomes the fifth player in the bag, as the wide receiver from Rock Hill, SC signed late Wednesday morning. Blake, an attendee of South Pointe High, is coached by former Gamecock Devonte Holloman. Notable Gamecocks to hail from South Pointe are Holloman, Stephon Gilmore, and Jadeveon Clowney.

The Palmetto State native is considered the sixth best player in his home state, choosing the Gamecocks over finalists Louisville and Virginia Tech. He also held offers from Georgia Tech, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas State, Kentucky, Michigan State, Ole Miss, NC State, Penn State, Pitt, Tennessee, and Texas Tech, among others.

As a senior, Blake racked up 12 touchdowns while playing both receiver and quarterback.

2:00 PM – McDowell is the sixth signee of the day, and a bit of a surprise due to the fact that the coaching staff wasn’t sure if he’d sign today or wait until February. Luckily for the Gamecocks, he chose to stick with his pledge and make it official.

The running back was originally committed to North Carolina State, before changing his mind and making the flip to South Carolina in June.

The three-star prospect is the 13th best all-purpose back in the nation, and he could provide the Gamecocks with another weapon out of the backfield. As a senior, he showed off his dual threat abilities, rushing for 800 yards and 14 scores, while also hauling in 10 passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns. He also has the potential to make an impact on special teams, where he could become a candidate to field punts and kickoffs.

4:30 PM – Barrett becomes the second defensive signee in the class, and the first along the front seven. The 6-foot-3, 320-pound tackle is rated as a three-star recruit and the 39th best player in the state of North Carolina.

Barrett may end up being one of the more underrated additions in the class, holding offers from big time programs like Penn State, Tennessee, and Ole Miss. He stayed true to the Gamecocks, though, even through the coaching change.

The Tar Heel State native wasn’t able to play this fall, as North Carolina decided to postpone high school football until the spring, but he recorded great numbers as a junior. In that 2019 season, Barrett tallied 70 takedowns, including 15 sacks.

9:00 PM – The final signee of the day, JonDarius Morgan made it official Wednesday night. The offensive lineman is rated as a three-star prospect, and chose the Gamecocks over offers from Arizona State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, and Syracuse.