In wake of Nick Saban's retirement, could South Carolina football swipe a 5-star Alabama commitment?

Since Nick Saban announced his retirement less than two weeks ago. college football coaches all across the country have tried to swoop in and recruit Alabama's players. Both the transfer portal and the high school recruiting ranks have been flooded with players leaving or decommitting from 'Bama, and the South Carolina football program is one of many to get involved with those players.

On Monday, South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer and tight ends coach Justin Stepp were in Florida to visit former class of 2025 Alabama commitment Jaime Ffrench, Jr.

The 5-star prospect decommitted from the Crimson Tide in the wake of Saban's announcement, and he has become one of the most sought-after players in the '25 cycle. At 6'1" and 185 pounds, Ffrench is an explosive athlete who has elite body control. On film, he can manipulate his entire body while in the air to reach passes that shouldn't be humanly possible, and he has enough control of his feet to find green grass instead of white sidelines when making catches near the boundary.

As a route-runner, Ffrench is elite, as well, and he uses his long arms to earn even more space from defensive backs by catching the ball with a nice radius.

Ffrench's older brother Maurice was a very productive receiver for the Pittsburgh Panthers.

Of the 600+ players who participated in the All-American Bowl's Underclassman National Combine, French was named the "Alpha Dog" by 247Sports. At the event against other top talents, he showed the ability to get open, gain separation, and make difficult catches. He was also the On3 MVP of the Under Armour Future 50 Showcase. The dominant showings helped bump his recruiting rankings as he now sits as a top-5 receiver in the class by all four major recruiting outlets.

Ffrench would be a big-time get for a South Carolina football program that needs talent at wide receiver in a big. Likely a roster weakness in 2024, the Gamecocks will also lose at least three scholarship receivers to graduation.

You can watch some of his film here.