The Early Signing Period for college football began on Wednesday, and National Letters of Intent have been flying in from all over the country. While most of those NLIs are not sent in via fax machine anymore, commitments are not official until paperwork is completed. The South Carolina football program is hoping to have most of their class secured by the end of the Early Signing Period.
One of the players in the class who made things official is 3-star wide receiver Debron Gatling.
Welcome home, @bigsgbron! pic.twitter.com/IG0cAzXdB9
— Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) December 20, 2023
Position: WR
Recruiting Ranking: 3 stars (consensus)
Measurables: 6'0"; 180 pounds; 4.5-second 40-yard dash
Former Player Comp: Josh Vann
Debron Gatling decommitted from Texas A&M last week and completed his flip to the South Carolina football program on National Signing Day as he committed to the Gamecocks in a public ceremony.
Gatling is a good athlete, but he is not an athlete who plays wide receiver. Instead, he is a pure receiver who is dedicated to his craft. The Georgia native is a really good route-runner who has good hands and has a knack for finding soft spots in opposing defenses.
The quickness and leaping ability possessed by Gatling is just an added bonus that has allowed him to become one of the most productive high school receivers in the Peach State. While not a burner, he is fast enough to run away from a lot of defenders. While not a big guy, he can high-point the football to catch the ball over most defensive backs.
As a player, Gatling looks a lot like former Gamecock Josh Vann. Vann had a nice career in garnet and black, and after a couple years of development (while also getting some early playing time), he had really nice seasons as a junior and senior. Gatling could be on a similar trajectory as Vann. The route-running profile could see him on the field early, but some needed physical development will mean he needs a little time to reach his full potential.
You can watch some of his film here.