South Carolina Football: Gamecock flip target wins Player of the Year

South Carolina football recruiting has gone well in the class of 2024. For just the second time in the modern recruiting era (2020 was the other time), the Gamecocks have two 5-stars committed in the same class as offensive tackle Josiah Thompson and EDGE/defensive end Dylan Stewart hope to help shore up USC’s issues on the line of scrimmage.

The recruiting results could be even better if some major flip targets end up choosing the Gamecocks over their current commitments. Georgia native Kameryn Fountain (4-star DE committed to Southern Cal), in-state Quaysheed Scott (3-star DB committed to Kentucky), and in-state Braylon Staley (4-star WR committed to Tennessee) are three of the most well-known flip targets.

This week, Staley was granted the top honor in his region. The speedy wideout was named the Region III-AA Player of the Year after totaling 69 catches, 1182 yards, and 14 touches on the season. His Strom Thurmond team had a good season with a pretty deep run into the South Carolina High School League playoffs.

With the South Carolina football roster losing three receivers to graduation and five more to the transfer portal so far this offseason, the Gamecocks will be looking to add more pass-catchers to the roster for next season. Mazeo Bennett (also a region Player of the Year in South Carolina for Greenville High School) and Zy’marion Lang are already committed in the class.

Staley’s Tennessee commitment has seemed stronger than most of the Gamecocks’ flip targets, so earning his pledge to the South Carolina football program could be difficult. However, the in-state factor and the pull of a clear avenue to playing time could be nice draws in favor of Carolina.

Fellow flip target Quaysheed Scott was also named his region’s Player of the Year.

If the Gamecocks can flip all three of Fountain, Scott, and Staley, a good recruiting class in the ’24 cycle could turn into a great one.

You can watch some of Staley’s film here.