Gamecocks trending for four-star RB after FSU decommitment
The 2026 recruiting class is heating up for Shane Beamer and the South Carolina Gamecocks, and there is a big uptick for a top target who recently reopened his recruiting. On Friday, four-star running back Amari Thomas decommitted from Florida State, but the Blountstown (Fla.) standout won't be on the market for long. He recently told Rivals that he plans to announce where he will be attending college on August 9, and South Carolina is now the frontrunner for his pledge.
Thomas named South Carolina, Georgia Tech, UCF, and Florida as his standout programs, but the Gamecocks have recently surged to the top, according to the Rivals Recruiting Prediction Machine. In addition, recruiting insiders Steve Wiltfong, John Garcia Jr., and even FSU insider Michael Langston are all pointing at Thomas landing in Columbia. “Loved the energy up there,” Thomas told Wiltfong after his official visit to South Carolina. “It was great … Gamecocks were amazing. Felt genuine. The people inside the building are amazing.”
Thomas is ranked the No. 185 overall prospect in the Rivals250 rankings and No. 18 running back nationally, as well as the No. 25 player in the state of Florida for the Class of 2026. As a junior, Thomas racked up nearly 1,900 yards and 34 touchdowns for Blountstown.
Gamecocks building a beast of a class
Thomas' growing interest in Gamecocks Football comes as no surprise, as Beamer and his coaching staff are on a serious roll with recruiting.
- Four-star QB Landon Duckworth from Jackson, Alabama recommitted to South Carolina also on Friday. He’s the No. 8 quarterback in the class.
- South Carolina won a battle with Tennessee and Ole Miss to land four-star OT Kamari Blair, ranked No. 22 at his position.
- Also joining the class this month: DL Noah Clark, ATH Triston Lewis, and several other top-tier targets.
South Carolina's Class of 2026 is now ranked No. 17 nationally in the Rivals Industry Team Rankings, with four-star DL Aiden Harris leading the pack as the highest-ranked commit in the Gamecocks recruiting haul. If Amari Thomas joins the flock on August 9, South Carolina's 2026 class could enter Top 15 territory and continue establishing itself as a national contender.