South Carolina Football: Elite linebacker prospect announces decision

Shane Beamer’s South Carolina football team has been in search of its first commitment in the class of 2025. A large number of big-time prospects are considering the Gamecocks, and high school recruits often make commitments during their junior season.

This summer, the South Carolina football program was included in the top-8 schools for elite class of 2025 linebacker DJ McClary. The New Jersey native is one of the best linebackers in the ’25 cycle, and he decided this weekend to go ahead and announce his commitment a little earlier than many expected.

With McClary’s announcement, South Carolina football is still without a pledge in next year’s class as the talented ‘backer announced his decision to pledge his services to James Franklin and the Penn State Nittany Lions. McClary chose Penn State over South Carolina, Rutgers, Southern Cal, Ohio State, Oregon, Tennessee, and Michigan.

McClary’s decision came on Sunday after taking an official visit to Penn State for the team’s victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes. Many college football fans believe the Nittany Lions to be “Linebacker U” for their long history of elite play in the middle of the defense. McClary could be the next great defender at State College.

For the Gamecocks, linebacker is a position of need in the future. 4-star true freshman Grayson “Pup” Howard has played sparingly this season but is believed to be a major piece for the future.

USC has two linebackers committed in the ’24 class in 4-stars Fred “JayR” Johnson and Wendell Gregory. Both players also get snaps as EDGE players in high school, and Gregory has even seen his position change to EDGE in On3’s database.

As more and more 2025 prospects begin announcing commitments, South Carolina football fans can expect the Gamecocks to get in on the action soon. The Gamecocks do have one 2026 class member committed (4-star quarterback Landon Duckworth).