Shane Beamer, South Carolina go 0-for-3 on recruiting trail as targets commit elsewhere

The South Carolina Gamecocks are working hard to rebound after a down 4-8 season in Columbia. A big part of that is on the recruiting trail. The Gamecocks started off the month of July with a bang, landing several blue-chip prospects, including five-star Joshua Dobson. But over this past weekend, South Carolina went 0-for-3 on three key prospects. 

The first was in-state defensive lineman Seth Tillman. Although the Gamecocks were a finalist, along with Clemson, Georgia and Michigan, Tillman ended up committing to Dabo Swinney and the Tigers instead. 

The Rock Hill, S.C. prospect was rated as the No. 3 overall prospect out of the Palmetto State, and took a visit to the Gamecocks on May 1. His hometown is even much closer to Columbia, S.C. then it is to Clemson, so this one stings for South Carolina fans. 

South Carolina and Coach Beamer were also finalists for four-star linebacker Mikahi Allen, who was down to three final schools in Texas, Texas A&M and South Carolina. Allen is rated by 247Sports as the nation's No. 15 linebacker for 2027 and the No. 5 overall prospect out of New Jersey. 

Although there was hope that the Gamecocks could beat out the Aggies again, like they did in landing five-star Joshua Dobson, TAMU prevailed in landing the linebacker.  With Allen's commitment, the Aggies retain their No. 1 overall spot in the 2027 recruiting class rankings. Allen is rated as the

Also over the weekend, South Carolina was a finalist for four-star safety Kennedy Green out of Douglasville, Ga. Rated as the No. 32 overall safety for 2027, Green had previously committed to Mississippi State in Nov. 2024. But he had opened his recruiting again last June. He had final schools in South Carolina, Mississippi State, Nebraska and North Carolina. But in the end, the Bulldogs won out for Green again: 

Obviously finishing a weekend striking out on three targets in a row for the Gamecocks coaching staff isn't the best look. And this might have just been some bad luck in having all three guys announce on the same weekend. 

The good news is South Carolina's 2027 class is still in a great spot, ranking 28th nationally per 247Sports and 24th overall per Rivals. It includes 17 hard commits, including blue-chippers in Dobson, cornerback Kelvin Millington, wide receivers Iveon Lewis and Javien Robinson, safety Davion Jones, offensive tackle Nate Carson and running back Brayden Tyson.  

When it comes to recruiting, it's a win-some-lose-some game. South Carolina unfortunately found that out the hard way this weekend with all three targets committing elsewhere. But it's still early in the cycle, and South Carolina will likely get some wins elsewhere in this class.

ALSO READ: South Carolina's 2026 schedule puts Shane Beamer in a pressure cooker, per ESPN FPI

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