South Carolina football: JyVonte McClendon commits to Gamecocks

South Carolina football picked up its 5th commitment in the class of ’22.

Shane Beamer and the South Carolina football program picked up a Sunday commitment from three-star safety JyVonte McClendon, moving the ’22 class total to five pledges. McClendon was on campus as part of a monster recruiting weekend for the Gamecocks, who hosted 10 official visitors in Columbia.

McClendon is rated by Rivals as one of the best prospects in the state of Florida, ranking as the nation’s 33rd best safety. He chose the Gamecocks over offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Pitt, and West Virginia. Also on campus was five-star product, and high school teammate, Sam McCall, who the Gamecocks are trying to flip from Florida State. Maybe McClendon’s pledge will influence his teammate’s college decision.

McClendon will have an immediate opportunity to make an impact at South Carolina, as the roster currently lacks depth in the secondary. At safety, the Gamecocks return just a few players with playing experience, and the team lost its top five contributors following the 2020 season.

With the addition, South Carolina’s 2022 recruiting class improves to 40th nationally, one spot ahead of North Carolina State, and just behind the Herm Edwards and the Arizona State Sun Devils. That ranking puts the Gamecocks with the 12th best class in the SEC, according to Rivals, though we could start seeing more dominos fall in the future. Coach Beamer is off to a great start with recruiting this offseason. Hopefully this momentum will continue.