The 2025 South Carolina football recruiting class took a big hit over the weekend when Shamari Earls decommitted from the class. Though it was an expected move, Earls' flip to the rival Georgia Bulldogs hurts as he was the highest-rated prospect in the Gamecocks' class.
Since his new pledge to UGA, Earls has tried to recruit a fellow Virginia native to the 'Dawgs. 4-star defensive lineman Caleb Williams, a player who committed to the South Carolina football program the same weekend as Earls, has heard several recruiting pitches from the 4-star cornerback and received a Georgia offer, but on Wednesday, he addressed his commitment status.
On social media, Williams responded to posts about Georgia's interest in him with a simple message: "Not flipping [,] staying true [. My] word is bond."
Since Earls' decommitment and flip, Williams has become the Gamecocks' top-rated committed recruit in the '25 cycle according to 247Sports' prospect rankings. Listed between 6'5" and 6'6" and between 250 and 260 pounds, Williams is a hybrid tackle/EDGE player who likely will wind up as one of the most athletic interior defensive linemen on the future Gamecock roster.
There are no other defensive tackles currently pledged to the South Carolina football program in the class, but EDGE Jaquavious Dodd, EDGE Kobby Sakyi-Prah, EDGE/linebacker Anthony Addison, EDGE/linebacker Taeshawn Alston, and EDGE/linebacker Jaiden Braker are all committed and could be defensive linemen of the future for USC. Carolina also is the game for multiple other defensive linemen, including 5-star EDGE Jared Smith and 4-star junior college tackle Zavion Hardy.
As a player, Caleb Williams combines strength and length to dominate up front. He has good feet and a strong motor, and if he has a knack for getting blockers' hands off of him so that he can make a play. when asked to pin his ears back and get after the passer, he has enough juice to be extremely disruptive, and he is big enough at the line of scrimmage to make throwing lanes difficult. He has some growth potential as a run defender, but as he gets stronger and more disciplined in his technique at the college level, he could become a dominant all-around defensive lineman.
You can watch some of his film here.