Athletic North Carolina linebacker picks South Carolina football program

Heading into Tuesday, South Carolina football had 16 total commitments in the class of 2025 as the Gamecocks had 9 defensive players, 5 offensive players, and 2 special teamers pledged in the cycle.

Tuesday evening, those numbers changed to 17 commitments and 10 defensive pledges as former 4-star prospect Taeshawn Alston announced his commitment on Instagram to Shane Beamer and the South Carolina football program.

Alston picked Carolina over the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. He is the 2nd North Carolina prospect to commit to USC in the '25 class (4-star wide receiver Brian Rowe is the other). Bringing players south from the Old North State has been difficult for the Gamecocks recently as defensive tackle Nick Barrett (2021) was the team's last high school signee from the state.

The Gamecocks recruited Alston as a versatile linebacker who can play the position in a more traditional sense but also rush the passer as a stand-up EDGE player. That type of player is a major need in the 3-3-5 defense that USC started to run in 2023.

If things work out well for him in that spot, he could see action at linebacker in a blitz-heavy position group and play some EDGE in obvious passing situations. He has shown talent as a pursuit player, a positive sign for his potential as a linebacker. He also has solid length and bend as a pass rusher.

Alston has enough athleticism and first-step explosion to have success in either role for the Gamecocks. At 6'3" and 230 pounds, he already has good size for the linebacker position but has the type of frame that could add some bulk if defensive coordinator Clayton White decides Alston is needed more as a pass rusher.

Alston is a consensus 3-star prospect, but his ceiling is higher. He should be considered a somewhat developmental prospect, but he has real potential to become an impact player before his career is over.

You can watch some of his film here.