Early National Signing Day is barreling toward the Gamecocks like a freight train, and the stakes coudn't be more clear. South Carolina's 2026 recruiting class is approaching the finish line, and Shane Beamer's staff is maneuvering with urgency and intentionality. What used to be a quiet buildup to a February signing frenzy has now become a December power play. With so many prospects eager to enroll early and jump into offseason strength programs, Wednesday, December 3, is the moment.
This recruiting class has long been circled as one that could elevate the roster foundation in Columbia, and as paperwork day approaches, the storyline is simple. Lock in the headlines, hold off the poachers, and find room for one more big swing to land some big names.
A Potentially Historic Top of the Class
The backbone of the 2026 group is anchored by four blue-chip talents, the highest concentration of top-100 prospects of the Beamer era.
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ IOL Darius Gray (No. 16 nationally, No. 1 at his position)
Gray is the crown jewel of this recruiting class for the Gamecocks. With South Carolina’s offensive line struggling through the 2025 campaign, Gray has the traits to push for early playing time the minute he steps on campus. He is a plug-and-play building block the staff has been prioritizing for more than a year.
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ QB Landon Duckworth (No. 52 nationally, No. 6 QB)
The future of the quarterback room at Carolina. Duckworth has been as steady as they come throughout the cycle, and his arm talent paired with mobility fits perfectly into what South Carolina wants to evolve into offensively.
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ CB J’Zavien Currence (No. 67 nationally, No. 8 CB)
Dynamic, and competitive, Currence is a prototype boundary corner. His ceiling has SEC written all over it.
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ DL Aiden Harris (No. 81 nationally, No. 10 DL)
One of the most disruptive front-seven players on the board. Harris brings a motor and a floor that coaches love.
If all four of these players sign on Wednesday, it will mark a new high-water mark in Beamer Ball.
Strong Depth Across the Board
South Carolina's class isn't top-heavy, it's foundational, which is exactly what this program needs.
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ DL Noah Clark
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ OT Zyon Guiles
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ CB Kosci Barnes
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ATH Sequel Patterson
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️ LB Andrew Harris
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️ S Triston Lewis
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️ EDGE Keenan Britt
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️ CB K.J. Johnson
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️ IOL Anthony Baxter
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️ WR Cayden Baxter
With the 2025 offensive line issues still fresh, the staff is expected to attack the Transfer Portal with a vengeance to stabilize that room immediately.
The Big Swing: Can South Carolina Flip Zion Elee?
The headline that everyone is watching is Zion Elee, the nation's top edge rusher and a consensus five-star in the 2026 cycle. He is currently committed to Maryland, but his recent visit to Columbia created some noise.
At 6-foot-3.5 and 220 pounds, Elee is the type of complete game-changer who reshapes a defensive front the moment he arrives. The path to a flip isn't easy, it never is with a national-level defender, but the Gamecocks are applying the pressure. This one will be worth watching.
What’s Next
Wednesday is shaping up to be one of the more pivotal signing days of the Beamer era. The mission is to lock in the commitments, protect the class, and see if one finals shockwave can be added before the ink dries on the day.
As always, stay locked in. Garnet & Cocky will have full coverage of every signature, every flip, and every surprise as Early National Signing Day unfolds.