![South Carolina football Head Coach Shane Beamer and his team continue to be doubted despite improving every season. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/1de6675713d7ede3758bd41631575942384d69798469e4e1e26e7fc76e0e12da.jpg "South Carolina football Head Coach Shane Beamer and his team continue to be doubted despite improving every season. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]")
The South Carolina Gamecocks have put together one of the top recruiting classes in recent years for the 2023 recruiting cycle. While the recruiting rankings are ever-changing, according to industry leaders
and
, Shane Beamer and company have found themselves firmly inside the top-20 since the Early Signing Period ended.
A major target in the 2023 recruiting class is DE Zavion Hardy.
Position: DE
Recruiting Ranking: 4 Stars (Rivals); 3 Stars (on3, 247, ESPN)
Measurables: 6’5”; 250 pounds
Former Player Comp: Marquavius Lewis
Zavion Hardy signed his National Letter of Intent on Wednesday’s National Signing Day, but it was not with the Gamecocks, despite his long-time commitment status. Hardy ran into issues with the NCAA Clearing House and will instead attend East Mississippi Community College. It is of note that this is the same junior college that is sending current South Carolina signee Elijah Davis to Columbia. According to Hardy, himself, he will be a Gamecock after handling his academics during his time in Mississippi.
As a player, Hardy is a big-bodied defensive end who still has the athletic ability to rush the passer. That athleticism was on display in high school as Hardy was a basketball player for Tattnall Square Academy and had a highlight go viral as he blocked a would-be dunker in impressive fashion. Hardy is stout enough against the run to develop into an every-down defensive end, and he flashes some pass rush ability on film.
During his tenure in junior college, other teams may attempt to recruit Hardy; however, the recruiting of committed junior college players is lighter, and those players usually end up at their committed school after a stint in the JuCo ranks unless something specific happens to change the mind of the player or school. Another junior college product, Marquavius Lewis was a strongside defensive end for the Gamecocks. Lewis was a thicker end who played two years at Hutchinson Community College before making it to Columbia, where he was eventually named a team captain. If Hardy can follow the same path as Lewis, his future looks bright.
Other junior college transfer defenders who found success wearing garnet and black on Saturdays include twins Jasper and Casper Brinkley, Brison Williams, and Javon Kinlaw.