South Carolina Football: Gamecocks OL Adds Big Piece in Shivers

The South Carolina football program has put together one of their top recruiting classes in recent years for the 2023 recruiting cycle. While the recruiting rankings are ever-changing, according to industry leaders on3 and 247Sports, Shane Beamer and company have found themselves firmly inside the top-20 since the Early Signing Period ended.

One of the players in this class is OL Jatavius Shivers, who signed with South Carolina during the Early Signing Period.

Position: OT
Recruiting Ranking: Consensus 3 Stars
Measurables: 6’7”; 295 pounds; 81-inch wingspan
Former Player Comp: Jazston Turnetine

Jatavius Shivers is an intriguing tackle recruit from outside of Atlanta. A raw prospect, Shivers has impressive size (6’7” tall, 295 pounds, and an 81-inch wingspan) and moves well for such a mountainous young man. In fact, including the guards for South Carolina football’s 2023 class, Shivers might be the most impressive puller in the class on sweeps and end arounds. When in space, Shivers is an absolute menace, destroying anything he could reach with his considerably-sized paws.

On film, Shivers is impossible to miss. So much larger than most high school players, he relied on his considerable strength and athleticism to win matchups; as such, his technique and pad level will need instruction from new Offensive Line Coach Lonnie Teasley when he begins practicing this summer. As a pass blocker, Shivers was an immovable object against lower-level competition, but he will need to work on his footwork and arm extension if he hopes to stop SEC pass rushers. In the run game, Shivers dominates initially but needs to work on finishing his blocks.

Physically-speaking, Shivers favors former Gamecock tackle Jazston Turnetine. Turnetine played some at South Carolina but found more success after a transfer to Florida State where he played both tackle and guard, utilizing his considerable athleticism as he transitioned inside. Like Jaz, Shivers is the type of physical freak who has the ability to move inside, but he has entirely too much upside as a tackle for that move to happen.

As is true for most young players in the SEC, Shivers is unlikely to be ready to protect Gamecock quarterbacks’ blindsides immediately. With Dylan Wonnum declaring for the NFL draft this offseason and Jaylin Nichols only having one more year of eligibility, the door is open for Shivers to compete alongside sophomore Cason Henry and others for future playing time on the outside of the o-line.

With some good coaching and a 100% buy-in from Jatavius Shivers, himself, the largest member of the 2023 recruiting class could become a star.