South Carolina football: Gamecocks trending for Jaishawn Barham

South Carolina football is trying to land this 4-star LB.

Shane Beamer hasn’t taken a moment this offseason to slow his recruiting efforts. Since the NCAA lifted its ban on in-person contact between coaches and prospects back in June, the Gamecocks have had visitors in Columbia nearly every day. As a result, we’ve seen a number of talented recruits give South Carolina a shot, planning trips to see the campus and everything the university has to offer.

With those visits have come 15 commitments, 11 of which have come over the last month and a half. Coach Beamer has a new positivity surrounding the program, and it’s beginning to pay dividends on the recruiting trail.

One of the highest priority targets in the 2022 class in Jaishawn Barham, a four-star linebacker from the state of Maryland. He’s considered by 24/7 Sports to be the fifth-best player at his position, and the 59th-best player nationally. He’d recently narrowed his recruitment down to three schools. South Carolina landed one spot alongside Penn State and his hometown Terrapins.

Now, though, it looks like the Gamecocks could be pulling ahead. Barham has received three ‘crystal ball’ predictions this week from 24/7 Sports insiders, projecting the linebacker to wind up in Columbia when all is said and done. No other finalist has received a prediction.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise should coach Beamer pull one of the top players from the DMV region. He’s had years to build relationships dating back to his time at Virginia Tech, and he’s had a hand in recruiting the area for a number of programs. The Gamecocks are hoping that these recent projections come to fruition, because they’re in need of help at linebacker.

South Carolina lost its leading tackler of the last two seasons to the NFL, as Ernest Jones was picked up in the third round of the latest draft. The team will lose a few more contributors (D. Staley, B. Johnson, S. Greene) after the 2021 campaign, meaning this class will be used to restock what’s becoming a bare cupboard. Barham could see a path to early playing time in the SEC should he ultimately choose South Carolina.

Barham hasn’t set a commitment date, but the Gamecocks are hoping to stay atop the prospect’s board. Stay tuned to Garnet and Cocky for future recruiting updates.