South Carolina Football: Gamecock target sets commitment date for this weekend

South Carolina football recently picked up a big commitment from elite linebacker prospect Rodney Colton, Jr. The 34th-ranked overall recruit according to On3 is a class of 2026 player, though, and as of now, the Gamecocks do not have a linebacker pledge in the '25 cycle.

The Gamecocks are in on several linebacker prospects in the '25 class, perhaps most notably hybrid outside linebacker/EDGE Zayden Walker. Walker is set to announce his commitment in July, and the Gamecocks have a real shot with the talented defender. However, another USC linebacker target announced on Thursday that he was moving up his commitment date.

Now set to make his college decision known on Friday, May 10th, Tennessee native Sam Haley named his top-8 schools back in April, and the South Carolina football program made the cut along with the TCU Horned Frogs, North Carolina Tar Heels, Michigan State Spartans, Tennessee Volunteers, Missouri Tigers, West Virginia Mountaineers, and Virginia Tech Hokies. The announcement is scheduled for 8:00 PM EST.

Haley had said that he was hoping to be involved with SEC and ACC programs, so it makes sense that most of his list comes from the two leagues, but the Big 12's TCU Horned Frogs seem to be major players for his services, as well.

As a player, Haley is a reliable tackler who has his best moments against the run. He is not an overwhelming athlete and isn't outrageously big and strong, but he is a high football IQ player and makes the plays that come his way. If he can add a little bit of size and speed in a college weight room, Haley has a chance to be a very good inside linebacker at the next level.

Haley plays some tight end for his Ensworth School squad, but he will play linebacker in college.

You can watch some of his film here.