Gonzaga College High School standout Carter Meadows, a five-star EDGE in the 2026 recruiting class, has cut down his top schools to four: South Carolina, Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State. Per On3's Hayes Fawcett, the Gamecocks are the only SEC program in the mix for the Washington, D.C. native.
Meadows is ranked as the No.5 EDGE and No. 34 overall prospect in the country. At 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds, he brings elite height and athleticism to any team, especially if he bulks up for competition in the SEC.
BREAKING: Five-Star EDGE Carter Meadows is down to 4 Schools, he tells me for @on3recruits
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 9, 2025
The 6’6 235 EDGE from Washington, DC is ranked as the No. 6 Recruit in the ‘26 Class (per On3)
Where Should He Go? 👀https://t.co/W3oe3TGhO7 pic.twitter.com/KrUNp0hMO1
On3's Charles Power raved about Meadows, saying "Rangy EDGE prospect with a rare combination of frame and movement skills. One of the most physically impressive prospects in the 2026 cycle… Could easily be a 280-pounder before it’s all said and done… A fluid, flexible athlete who has excellent bend… Length pairs with good play strength to result in an effective edge setter.”
Meadows will take an official visit to South Carolina the weekend of May 30. He'll visit Penn State on June 6, Ohio State on June 13 and Michigan on June 20.
The recruitment of Meadows is far from over and could continue into the Fall, but if Shane Beamer and his coaching staff can land Meadows, it would mark South Carolina's first five-star commitment of the 2026 class and would be a huge win on the recruiting trail.