South Carolina Football: Gamecock commit wins Defensive MVP at North/South Game

South Carolina football fans are very familiar with the North/South Game.

The annual in-state high school postseason all-star game is played in Myrtle Beach and allows the best players in the state who did not make it to the Shrine Bowl to get one last chance to suit up at the high school level. (The Gamecocks have Josiah Thompson, Kam Pringle, Blake Franks, and Kelvin Hunter playing in the Shrine Bowl next week.)

Shane Beamer and the South Carolina football program have one player committed to the Gamecocks in the 2024 cycle who played in the North/South Game this Saturday. Irmo High School’s Isaiah McClary announced his pledge to the Gamecocks several weeks ago, and the preferred walk-on had a really nice showing at the North/South Game.

McClary snagged two interceptions in the game as he led the South defense to a stifling performance. McClary was the easy choice as the South’s Defensive MVP as his team won in decisive fashion 28-8. Hartsville running back Carmello McDaniel was the Offensive MVP for the South, and JL Mann duo Mikel McClellan (WR) and Jacari Bennett (DL) were the Offensive MVP and Defensive MVP, respectively, for the North team.

At 6’1″, McClary is a big-bodied defensive back who profiles as a player who can get involved early on special teams in his South Carolina football career. Pete Lembo (as most special teams coordinators do) loves players who can run and tackle for units, and McClary fits that profile. If things go well for him, he could earn a scholarship and get some defensive reps.

South Carolina football fans hope that the Columbia-area native can continue that level of play when he steps on campus in Columbia next year.

He is joined in the 2024 class by scholarship defensive backs Kelvin Hunter (4-star S), Jalewis Solomon (4-star CB/ATH), Braydon Lee (4-star CB), and David Bucey (3-star S/LB) and walk-on Landon Kurtz. 4-star ATH Zy’marion Lang could play defensive back, as well.