Gamecocks winning the battle: Landon Duckworth expected to sign with South Carolina after LSU surge

South Carolina fans can finally exhale. After 48 hours of swirling rumors, LSU buzz, and a whole lot of message-board paranoia, it now appears that 4-star quarterback Landon Duckworth is signing withthe Gamecocks. Hayes Fawcett of On3 reported Thursday morning that Duckworth will sign with South Carolina.

Duckworth, ranked among the top quarterbacks in the 2026 cycle, chose the Gamecocks over a crowded field, drawn in by the coaching staff’s vision and the opportunity to lead early. Duckworth is the No. 66 overall player and the No. 6 quarterback in the country, per the On3 Industry Rankings. He was previously committed to the Gamecocks early in his recruitment, but decommitted last summer. However, the Gamecocks, never stopped recruiting Duckworth. The staff made the young QB a priority early on, and now that persistence and patience has officially paid off for the Gamecocks.

The 6-foot-3, 180-pound quarterback had an impressive junior season at Jackson High School, throwing for 3,109 yards and 34 touchdowns while adding 631 yards on the ground with 12 scores. His arm talent and competitive edge make him a perfect fit for the tough competition within the SEC.

Duckworth will bring a strong arm, along with poise and youth. It's the kind of weapon that South Carolina has lacked consistently at the position. With his signature, the Gamecocks' offense now has a quarterback who could seamlessly step into spring practices and challenge for early reps. As the program seeks to evolve on the offense, Duckworth represents a foundational building block.

Beyond on-field upside, Duckworth's decision underscores recruiting momentum. South Carolina is building for the future, and this pledge signals faith in the program's trajectory, both in the locker room and on the recruiting trail.