As the South Carolina Gamecocks put the finishing touches on preparations for the 2026 season, the coaching staff is also focusing on some key recruits. As South Carolina opens the 2026 season at home against Kent State on Sept. 5, the Gamecocks continue to work hard on the recruiting trail.
The Gamecocks' class of 2028 has just two members, but the newest addition could be four-star linebacker Skylar Alston. According to new reporting from Rivals' Steve Wiltfong, the Gamecocks have apparently made a big impression on the Raleigh, N.C. prospect.
Per Wiltfong, Alston already has some frontrunners in his recruiting process, and South Carolina made the cut. According to his reporting, Alston has the Gamecocks alongside Auburn, Michigan and Penn State as his four main frontrunners.
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The linebacker is rated by the 247Sports Composite as the No. 17 overall linebacker from the class of 2028, as well as the No. 9 overall prospect from his home state of North Carolina. According to MaxPreps, Alston racked up156 total tackles across his two seasons at Cardinal Gibbons High School. He added a pair of sacks, an interception and five passes defended.
As he enters his junior season, he has been racking up offers recently. Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffs offered him earlier in August, and he received offers from Michigan and LSU this summer. The linebacker has been on coach Shane Beamer and South Carolina's radar for quite awhile, as they offered him in September of last year.
North Carolina has been a strong recruiting state for the Gamecocks in recent cycles, too. South Carolina's 2027 class has three blue-chips prospects from the state, including five-star cornerback Joshua Dobson, safety Davion Jones and defensive lineman John Archer.
The Gamecocks also have a verbal commit in their 2028 class from North Carolina already, in three-star receiver Joseph Gibbs.
South Carolina is also pushing hard for five-star EDGE rusher Cassell Cruickshank out of Fayetteville, N.C.
Hosting Alston for a recruiting visit sometime this fall seems like the next step for South Carolina's efforts in landing the talented linebacker. Although there are obviously other schools who are competing for his services, South Carolina is the closest school geographically, with Auburn being a close second.
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