South Carolina Gamecocks News: Football win, recruiting, basketball updates, and more

Here is the latest South Carolina Gamecocks News from the past week, starting with the South Carolina football team’s victory over Mississippi State on Saturday.

Shane Beamer’s team knocked off the equally-desperate-for-a-win Bulldogs 37-30. Quarterback Spencer Rattler and wide receiver Xavier Legette continue to dominate college football as Legette leads the country in receiving yards and Rattler ranks in the top-10 in passing.

The Gamecock offensive line had its best overall game, and the defensive front played very well. The secondary got beat early and often, however, and the special teams units weren’t great again. All in all, the two biggest issues from the night are ones that have historically been strengths, so there is reason for optimism about this team.

Former All-American wide receiver Alshon Jeffery had his #1 jersey retired during a halftime ceremony.

The injury report is relatively clean considering where it was a few weeks ago.

Wide receiver Ahmarean Brown didn’t play again, but fellow questionable players JT Geer and Tyreek Johnson did.

Juice Wells remains out, and so does Cason Henry, but both week 1 starters could be back in a few weeks if things go well.

David Spaulding, O’Donnell Fortune, Trey Knox, and even Spencer Rattler all got a little banged up against Mississippi State, but Beamer said that they were all going to be good to go for Saturday’s game against Tennessee as Wells was the only player that he mentioned as “doubtful” heading into this week of practice.

Jaylen Nichols, Markee Anderson, and Ryan Brubaker will remain out.

A couple of Gamecocks are making history and winning awards in the early goings of the 2023 season.

Defensive lineman TJ Sanders was named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week for his performance against Georgia last weekend.

Left tackle Tree Babalade was named the 247Sports True Freshman of the Week for his game against Georgia, as well.

Spencer Rattler is 8th in the country in passing yards with 1242 yards and is right behind Steve Taneyhill’s 1995 record-breaking passing pace through four games. Taneyhill finished the season with 3095 yards that season. Dylan Thompson finished the 2014 season with 3574 yards, a total that is the Carolina record.

Xavier Legette leads all receivers in college football with 556 yards. It is the most by a Gamecock through four games, and he is on pace to pass Alshon Jeffery’s all-time record 2010 numbers. Legette became the first Gamecock to ever catch two 75-yard touchdowns in the same game.

Some recruiting news went the Gamecocks’ way this week. Some recruiting news did not.

South Carolina football OL commit Josiah Thompson was bumped up to a 5-star rating by On3 last week. The offensive tackle from Dillon High School is now the 9th-ranked player in the entire country according to the recruiting outlet, and he and Dylan Stewart (5-star EDGE, Washington DC) currently represent just the second time in the modern recruiting era in which the Gamecocks have landed multiple 5-stars in the same class (2020, Jordan Burch and MarShawn Lloyd).

Elite 2024 athlete Kam Mikell officially put South Carolina in his top-6. South Carolina, Georgia, Colorado, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Kentucky all made the list. Georgia has been viewed as the heavy favorite for a long time, but Carolina and Colorado are believed to be next up in his decision-making thoughts.

Class of 2025 wide receiver, and current high school teammate of Gamecock 2024 commitment Michael Smith, Thomas Blackshear announced a top-6 that included South Carolina. Georgia, Alabama, Colorado, Tennessee, and Florida State are his other finalists.

2025 4-star quarterback Deuce Knight committed to Notre Dame over the Gamecocks and a handful of other programs. South Carolina currently is without a commitment in the class.

4-star ’25 tight end Ethan Barbour committed to Georgia. South Carolina was one of his finalists.

4-star ’25 lineback DJ McClary committed to Penn State over the weekend. The Gamecocks were a finalist.

A former Gamecock got elevated to the Los Angeles Chargers’ active roster.

Zack Bailey, a former All-SEC offensive lineman for USC, had his contract elevated with the Chargers for the second time.

Lamont Paris’ South Carolina basketball squad unveiled some new uniforms.

The jersey reveal also included a throwback from the NIT championship squad from 2005-2006.

A few positive recruiting notes for the Gamecock basketball team came down the pike, as well.

Class of 2025 guard Eli Ellis was on campus this weekend along with fellow 4-star ’25 wing Hayden Assemian.

The #2 player in the class of 2025, Darryn Peterson, put the Gamecocks in his top-16.

Dawn Staley’s South Carolina basketball team announced their completed out-of-conference schedule for the 2023-2024 season.

You can see the whole slate here.

Gamecock basketball legend A’ja Wilson was honored with a major award.

Wilson was named the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. The MVP award will be announced this week, and she is one of two realistic candidates.

A former South Carolina baseball All-American finished as a league leader in the Minors.

As the Southern League wrapped up last week, former Gamecock Wes Clarke finished as the league’s leader in home runs. He finished tied for second in home runs throughout all Double-A affiliate leagues.

A Gamecock commitment is no longer a part of Mark Kingston’s class of 2025.

Micah Matthews, a 3B/OF prospect with elite athleticism, decommitted last week. Matthews has a desire to pursue both football and baseball in college, and Shane Beamer’s program has not offered the 4-star athlete a football scholarship.