South Carolina football target, son of NFL lineman, announces college decision

Despite a bad year in 2023, the offensive line is probably the position group in which the South Carolina football coaching staff has brought in the most talent in recent years. As USC continues to "stack classes" up front, the perceived weakness should become a strength on the roster.

During the 2025 recruiting cycle, Carolina has been involved with a number of big-time blockers as they look to continue their success finding big uglies on the recruiting trail.

On Thursday evening, underrated target Isaac "Spike" Sowells made his college decision public, but the commitment did not go the way of the Gamecocks. Instead, the Kentucky native announced a pledge to Dave Doeren and the NC State Wolfpack. Sowells picked NC State over South Carolina and Kentucky.

Sowells is one of several Gamecock targets on the offensive line who was set to make his college commitment this summer. So far in the 2025 South Carolina football recruiting class, 4-star Gaffney native Shed Sarratt is the only player to commit to USC on the offensive line (class of 2026 interior lineman Anthony Baxter has, as well). The Gamecocks are in on several other linemen in the '25 cycle (Cortez Smith, Juan Gaston, and Jaylen Gilchrist), but only Gilchrist appears seriously to be considering South Carolina at this point in his recruitment.

Missing out on Sowells hurts because he has a high ceiling as a center or guard and has NFL bloodlines (his father played six years with the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, and Detroit Lions). However, the Gamecocks have several young linemen on the current roster who likely will have at least three years of eligibility remaining heading into the 2025 season. Securing a commitment from Gilchrist in two weeks (he announces on August 3rd) would go a long way in helping the South Carolina football coaching staff feel better about their haul of offensive linemen this cycle.

With at least four offensive linemen graduating (and a fifth who would have to petition for a sixth year of eligibility), there will be scholarships available for offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley to use in the transfer portal.