Head coach Shane Beamer and South Carolina's biggest get this recruiting cycle was landing five-star cornerback Joshua Dobson. Despite Texas A&M being the expected landing spot for the highly-touted cornerback, Coach Beamer and the Gamecocks kept the star close to home.
Earlier this week, Rivals released updated rankings for all 300 of the nation's top high school football prospects. In the new rankings, Dobson checked in at No. 5 overall in the country:
NEW: Updated 2027 Rivals300 Rankings‼️
— Rivals (@Rivals) July 13, 2026
Breakdown via @CharlesPower: https://t.co/3jEFWWAkwO pic.twitter.com/0xrGD1aXmV
Where the Hough High School cornerback checked in isn't a huge surprise, but it is still a big deal. He's a consensus five-star per both Rivals and 247Sports, and he is also the No. 1 overall prospect from his home state of North Carolina. Here's Rivals' scouting report of the standout corner:
"Technically refined corner prospect with rare top-end speed and physical build. 6-foot-1, 180-plus pounds with over a 6-foot-5 wingspan. Excellent weight distribution throughout his frame. Can run with anyone on the field. Ran 10.78 in the 100m during his sophomore track season. Explosive and fluid athlete with tremendous change of direction. Very calm footwork and patience in coverage. Does an excellent job locating the football and playing through the receiver’s hands."
Although he will play his upcoming senior high school football season forHough High School in Cornelius, N.C. for his senior season, he started his career at Catawba Ridge in Fort Mill, S.C. South Carolina also had the benefit of having the last of Dobson's final visits to his final schools, as he was on-campus in Columbia the weekend of June 19.
According to MaxPreps, Dobson finished with 76 total tackles with six interceptions and 17 passes defended across three seasons tracked by the outlet. He added four receptions for 149 yards receiving with two touchdowns on offense, getting another 530 kick-return yards. As his scouting report indicates, him running track also ia a credit to his speed and athleticism.
Dobson's commitment helps put South Carolina's 2027 class ranked 24th nationally per Rivals, as 247Sports ranks the class 28th overall. South Carolina's 2027 class also includes several other blue-chip recruits, such as Dobson's Hough teammate, four-star safety Davion Jones. It also includes four-stars in cornerback Kelvin Millington, offensive tackle Nate Carson, wide receiver Javien Robinsn and running back Brayden Tyson.
Assuming Dobson's commitment holds until he officially signs with the Gamecocks in December or February, Gamecock fans should be fired up about him joining South Carolina.
ALSO READ: Several Gamecock baseball players selected in 2026 Major League Baseball Draft
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