South Carolina football: five-star safety Sam McCall sets official visit date

South Carolina football will have a 5-star visitor this Summer.

Shane Beamer and the South Carolina football staff have been hard at work on the recruiting trail. Over the last few months, the Gamecocks have landed a commitment from four-star signal caller Braden Davis, Washington State transfer Tyrese Ross, offensive lineman Grayson Mains, and defensive back Kajuan Banks. They’ve also been able to flip linebacker Donovan Westmoreland, who’d previously been committed to play for SEC East rival Georgia.

Now, the crew is looking to flip yet another high profile recruit from a perennial college football power. Five-star athlete Sam McCall of Lakeland, FL has set an official visit date with the Gamecocks. The projected safety will be on campus June 11th, where he’ll get to see the university first hand, and meet with the coaching staff in person.

McCall committed to the Seminoles back in February, but has since set a couple of visit dates for the Summer, one with the Gamecocks and one with LSU. He’s ranked by 24/7 Sports as the nation’s 32nd best player, regardless of position, and the sixth best player in the Sunshine State.

The Gamecocks are really in the fold here due to McCall’s relationship with defensive backs coach Torrian Gray. Gray, who was previously at Florida, had the Gators as McCall’s perceived leader before his joining the South Carolina staff. He appears to be putting in the work, and it’s now paid off with the visit date being set.

Landing McCall would give the Gamecocks an immediate contributor in a secondary that’s lacking bodies and experience. The roster saw its top five players leave through either the NFL Draft or transfer portal this past offseason. South Carolina can offer McCall early playing time and a chance to make a name for himself in the SEC.

The South Carolina recruiting class for 2022 currently ranks as the 38th best in the nation. Adding McCall to the four-man group would boost the ranking into the top 30, placing them just one spot behind archrival Clemson.

Obviously, McCall won’t make a final decision until all of his visits are finished, and he may ultimately opt to honor his commitment with Florida State, but it’s definitely worth tracking. South Carolina has to like its chances, and will hope to land another headliner in the ’22 cycle.