Recruiting rankings update marks South Carolina football pledge among biggest risers

In front of a wild Williams-Brice Stadium College GameDay environment, the South Carolina football program hosted a huge group of talented high school prospects for their game against the LSU Tigers.

The long list of visitors included committed players, 2025 targets, and even high school juniors and sophomores, and the Gamecocks put their best foot forward. One of the players in attendance, a 2025 USC commitment, got some good news on Monday.

According to the new player recruiting rankings from On3, EDGE Jaquavious Dodd is one of the biggest risers in the country. On3 already was higher on the Eastside High School standout than the other major recruiting services, but the outlet moved the athletic pass rusher up from the #140 spot in the country to inside the top-100 at 98th.

Dodd committed to the Gamecocks during the summer and is the highest-rated player in the team's 2025 class according to On3. He is one of nine players considered 4-star recruits by at least one major recruiting outlet (not counting 5-star kicker/punter Max Kelley and 5-star long snapper Kyler Farrow).

As a player, Dodd is a seemingly never-ending pool of potential. Listed at 6'5.5" and 235 pounds, he is extremely long and athletic for the defensive end position, and he combines his physical traits with a solid motor. He has some bend, and his change-of-direction ability allows him to adjust when a quarterback takes off. A basketball player, too, Dodd has a knack for getting his hands up to knock down passes at the line of scrimmage, as well.

There is still room for Dodd to develop physically (primarily by adding weight and strength) and to hone his technique (mixing in multiple pass rush moves, improving his hand fighting, etc.), but with time, the Palmetto State native should grow into a very good player for the South Carolina football team.

You can watch some of his film here.