South Carolina Football: Gamecock 4-star EDGE target makes college choice

South Carolina football has one of the top EDGE prospects in the country committed in the class of 2024. 5-star Washington DC native Dylan Stewart shocked many by shutting down his recruitment and committing to the Gamecocks early in August. Two linebacker commits (Wendell Gregory and Fred “JayR” Johnson) also could move to EDGE when they arrive in Columbia.

Gamecock defensive ends/outside linebackers coach Sterling Lucas has USC in the running for a few more big-time pass rushers in the class to go with Stewart, Gregory, and Johnson.

4-star Georgia native Kameryn Fountain is currently committed to Southern Cal, but he is seen as a potential flip candidate, and 4-star Ernest Willor, Jr., though somewhat of a longshot, is still interested in the South Carolina football program.

Another major target at the defensive end/EDGE position, however, just took his name off the board.

On Thursday night, 4-star Florida native Booker Pickett, Jr. announced his commitment to the Miami Hurricanes.

Pickett, an undersized but athletic sack machine, had released a top-5 in August that included the Gamecocks, but his recruitment had recently begun shifting toward Miami in a big way. Expected to be in Columbia last weekend according to his social media, Pickett never made the visit. Presumably, he canceled the trip because he had already decided on the Hurricanes.

The current South Carolina football roster is set to lose at least two contributing seniors at the EDGE position (Jordan Strachan and Tyreek Johnson), and the Gamecocks are already thin at the position. Adding Stewart and the potential moves to EDGE for one or both of Gregory and Johnson will help, but USC will need to add another player in the ’24 cycle.

Fountain is the biggest target on the board, but Willor or a less public name could emerge as the process continues.