South Carolina Football: Gamecocks hosting some HUGE recruits for Clemson game

South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer and his staff never stop recruiting. That is the nature of modern college football, and the Gamecock coaches make sure they take full advantage of the recruiting calendar, especially regarding bringing in prospective players to campus for visits.

Based on social media activity of some Gamecock targets, this weekend’s rivalry game against Clemson also will be a loaded Saturday from a recruiting visit standpoint, as well.

A number of big-time visitors will be on campus this weekend from the classes of 2024 and 2025. Following the social media evidence, there will be even more players on campus, but listed below are some of the biggest names of this weekend’s visitors.

Gamecock commitments like Josiah Thompson (5-star OL), Dante Reno (4-star QB), Mazeo Bennett (4-star WR), Kelvin Hunter (4-star S), Michael Smith (4-star TE), Wendell Gregory (4-star LB/EDGE), Kam Pringle (4-star OL), Braydon Lee (4-star CB), Blake Franks (4-star OL), Jalewis Solomon (4-star DB/WR), David Bucey (3-star S/LB), and Jayden Sellers (3-star WR) will be playing the roles of recruiting assistants this weekend.

In the class of 2024, Gamecock targets Daniel Hill (4-star RB), Jerome Simmons (4-star JuCo DT), Braylen Russell (4-star RB), and Quaysheed Scott (3-star DB) are the highest-profile visitors.

In the class of 2025, South Carolina football recruits Elijah Griffin (5-star DL), Zayden Walker (5-star LB/EDGE), Solomon Thomas (5-star OL), Marshall Pritchett (4-star TE), Amare Adams (4-star DL), and Jontae Gilbert (4-star DB) also will be campus.

A massive opportunity is in play for the Gamecocks on Saturday. A raucous environment, a competitive game, and a good visit experience behind the scenes could go a long way in the recruitments of the long list of blue chippers who will be in Columbia this weekend.

The Gamecocks are expected to be major players down the stretch for Daniel Hill (committing in January) and Jerome Simmons. Quaysheed Scott is a Kentucky commitment, but the South Carolina native is on “flip watch.” Braylen Russell is an Arkansas commit but really liked the Gamecocks before committing to the Hogs.

The ’25 cycle is still a long way from finalizing, but Elijah Griffin has been on record talking about how much he likes the Gamecocks. The same can be said of Marshall Pritchett and Jontae Gilbert. Amare Adams is a major in-state target, and Zayden Walker is the brother of current ’24 USC commitment Jalewis Solomon (who will also be on campus).