South Carolina Football: Gamecocks getting visit from nation’s top prospect

There have been lots of things South Carolina football fans can question about the on-field performance this season, but one thing they can’t question is the efforts the Gamecock coaching staff have put into recruiting elite high school talent.

Head coach Shane Beamer and his staff have gotten South Carolina football in the game for more elite prospects than ever. Of course, USC is not landing all of these big-name talents, but the Gamecock recruiting effort has resulted in some major wins in future roster development.

The class of 2023 was Carolina’s best class since 2012 in terms of composite rankings, and the 2024 class (still ongoing) is one of just two South Carolina football recruiting classes to have two 5-star prospects in the modern era of recruiting, and the Gamecocks are still in the mix for another 5-star in the class.

In the class of 2025, South Carolina football is considered one of the favorites to bring in two top-5 talents. Defensive lineman Elijah Griffin and offensive tackle David Sanders are consensus 5-star prospects who are heavily considering the Gamecocks. Sanders is ranked as the top player nationally by 247Sports.

Sanders, a Charlotte native, has a visit to Columbia scheduled for this weekend. According to 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong, the 6’6″, 270-pound left tackle is planning November trips to visit South Carolina, Tennessee, Michigan, and either Florida State or Ohio State.

South Carolina, Clemson, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio State, and Alabama have been considered the early leaders for Sanders.

As a player, Sanders is an elite athlete for an offensive lineman, and his combination of quick feet, length, and powerful hands has scouts drooling over what he could turn into with a few years of collegiate development (and still another year and a half of high school).

As a run blocker, Sanders uses his strong lower half to drive defenders backward, bulldozing his way forward as ball carriers follow closely behind. As a pass blocker, he has elite feet, but his hands are strong enough to make an impact when contacting EDGE rushers, and they struggle to get away from him once he grabs hold (legally, of course).

If the South Carolina football program can land Sanders, he will join fellow blue chip offensive line recruits like Tro Baugh, Tree Babalade, Markee Anderson, Kam Pringle, Josiah Thompson, and Blake Franks as bricks in the Great Wall of Columbia.

You can watch some of his film here.