Superlatives for South Carolina football 2022 recruiting class

The South Carolina football team experienced a fantastic week of recruiting, culminating with the Early Signing Day event on Wednesday. When all was said and done, the Gamecocks’ 2022 recruiting class ranked as a unanimous top 25 class. The group was rated at No. 23 by 24/7 Sports, No. 21 at Rivals, and No. 16 at ESPN.

All in all, it was a nice haul for Shane Beamer in his first recruiting cycle. If he can continue building momentum on the field, next year’s class has a chance to be even better.

While South Carolina landed most everyone that they expected on Wednesday, this class ranking had a chance to be rated even higher. The numbers don’t include the Tuesday night signings of transfers Spencer Rattler and Austing Stogner.

According to 24/7 Sports’ transfer ratings, both are considered four-star players. Rattler was once a five-star prospect and the top quarterback in his high school class. A Heisman candidate entering the 2021 season, he becomes the highest rated quarterback commit in South Carolina football program history.

Rattler tossed 40 touchdowns and threw for more than 4,500 yards in just a season and a half with the Sooners. He’s an immediate upgrade in that position room. The tight end, Stogner, will also add production. An all-conference performer last season, the pass catcher has hauled in eight touchdowns over his first three seasons in Norman.

While those two signees don’t count towards the overall class rating, one decommitment wound up hurting the group’s rank.

Four-star prospect Jaishawn Barham spurned the Gamecocks for Maryland on signing day, just three days after making his original commitment to Shane Beamer. The circumstances surrounding the flip seem a bit fishy, almost pre-orchestrated, as the South Carolina coaching staff received word just 10 minutes after his commitment that his pledge may have not been genuine.

Barham’s signing would have pushed this group’s ranking up a couple of spots, possibly making it a top 15 class nationally. Instead, he’ll stay home to play for the Terps.

The miss with Barham stings but coach Beamer rounded up a class that he can build around moving forward. Let’s take a look at some of the cycle’s top players.