The South Carolina Gamecocks just scored one of their biggest recruiting victories. On Friday evening, five-star offensive lineman Darius Gray announced his commitment to South Carolina, choosing the Gamecocks over LSU, Clemson, Ohio State, and Tennessee. While all five programs were finalists, the battle ultimately came down to South Carolina and LSU. According to the Rivals Prediction Machine, the Gamecocks entered the day as the heavy favorite, and Shane Beamer's staff delivered, sealing the deal with one of the premier prospects in the country. His decision was revealed live on Gray's Instagram account.
The 6-foot-3, 285-pound interior lineman from St. Christopher's School in Richmond, Virginia, is ranked as the No. 1 interior offensive line recruit in the class of 2026 according to the Rivals Industry Rankings. 247Sports is especially high on the young recruit, placing Gray as the No. 16 overall prospect nationally. Composite rankings also list him as the No. 30 overall player nationally and the No. 2 recruit in the state of Virginia.
This commitment is a massive statement for Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer and offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley, who have made strengthening trenches a priority. Gray becomes the third offensive line commitment in South Carolina's Class of 2026 and one of the highest-rated recruits in program history. His addition provides a major boost to the Gamecock roster.
For Beamer and his coaching staff, this commitment represents not just a recruiting win over LSU, but also a statement that South Carolina can go head-to-head with college football's elite, and win.