South Carolina Football: Gamecocks make top list for elite EDGE prospect

There’s something different about Shane Beamer and his South Carolina football staff on the recruiting trail. The Gamecocks landed some quality players in recruiting during the Will Muschamp era, but the majority of the high-profile wins were in-state players, or they were from another nearby state and were lightly recruited by the home state program.

In fact, since the recruiting industry became what college football fans know it is as today, the Gamecocks had never signed an out-of-state consensus 5-star player (players like MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Culliver were 5-stars by at least one recruiting service but were not consensus 5-stars).

Now, under Beamer’s leadership, the Gamecocks have signed one consensus 5-star in athlete Nyck Harbor and have secured a commitment from another in EDGE Dylan Stewart.

Several 5-star prospects in the class of 2025 have also made their Gamecock interest public in recent months, as well. 5-star defensive back Jontae Gilbert keeps visiting Columbia and recently decommitted from Ohio State. 5-star defensive tackle Elijah Griffin is viewed as a South Carolina vs. Georgia battle, and 5-star offensive tackle David Sanders is interested in USC, too.

On Monday, another big-time recruit in the class of 2025 let the world know that he is interested in the Gamecocks.

Former 5-star (and current 4-star) EDGE prospect Zahir Mathis released his top-12 schools, and South Carolina football was among his group of favorites.

South Carolina made the top-12 along with Southern Cal, Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, Tennessee, Florida, Texas A&M, LSU, Penn State, and Florida State.

As a player, Mathis is a thin EDGE rusher (6’5″ and 230 pounds) who gives quarterbacks nightmares while as a pass rusher for Imhotep Charter Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

A plus-athlete, Mathis is also adept at using his hands to knock away the arms of would-be blockers, giving himself an advantage against both the pass and the run.

Mathis likes to rush the passer best, but he has a good instinct for getting his head turned back inside to help chase down run plays. He is a very good pursuit player, as well, a good sign for his future if his weight keeps him at outside linebacker instead of defensive end in college.

You can watch some of his film here.