On Tuesday, South Carolina football extended a scholarship offer to class of 2027 athlete James Bethea, a rising star out of Florida whose stock is climbing the ranks fast.
While Bethea has not officially cracked the major recruiting rankings, he recruitment is surging with an offer list that is already stacked with some powerhouse programs. Alongside the Gamecocks, he holds offers from Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma, Miame, Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas A&M, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Houston, Washington, Louisville, Rutgers, Duke, Georgia Tech, UCF, and others. The majority of these opportunities have rolled in since this spring, making him one of the most interesting breakout names in the 2027 cycle.
Bethea previously released his top ten programs, but that was before one of his biggest offers arrived. He also recently earned a nomination for the Navy All-American Bowl, further validating the buzz surrounding his playmaking skills.
Bethea is listed at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds and is a true three-phase contributor for Vanguard High School. He flashes at the receiver position with smooth route running, toughness in traffic, and the speed to stretch the field. He shows physicality and unusal effort as a blocker, which sets him apart from most wideouts at his age.
On the defense, Bethea lines up primarily at safety, where his aggression and instincts stand out. He is quick to step up in run support and has a natural feel for making plays on the ball, whether breaking up passes or forcing fumbles.
Special teams coaches will also love him. Bethea embraces his role whether or not the ball is in his hands, playing with infectious energy that lifts teammates around him.
South Carolina's pursuit of Bethea signals just how much the Gamecocks want to stay ahead of identifying versatile, high-upside athletes early. His recruitment is only just beginning to gain traction, and the Gamecocks have put themselves firmly in the mix.