South Carolina hosting elite recruits for Clemson game as rivalry stakes rise

South Carolina and Clemson may both be grinding through inconsistent seasons, but none of that dulls the shine on rivalry week. For Shane Beamer and staff, Saturday's rivalry matchup is not just about bragging rights. It is a recruiting showcase wrapped inside one of the most emotional atmospheres in college football. The Gamecocks are expecting a strong group of visitors inside Williams-Brice Stadium. The list features some key commits, major targets in the 2027 class, and several prospects who sit squarely in the overlap between the two Palmetto State rivals. While visit lists always shift in the final days before kickoff, all signs point to South Carolina hosting one of its deepest groups of young talent this fall.

Below is a look at who is expected in Columbia this weekend.

Carsyn Baker leads the headliners

The biggest confirmed visitor is four-star running back Carsyn Baker of Fairburn, Georgia. The Florida Gator commit has long been South Carolina's top choice at the running back spot, and the staff has pushed aggressively to stay in the fight.

Now, with the early signing period just days away, the Gamecocks have one final opportunity to make their pitch in person. Getting Baker on campus for the Clemson game is the kind of swing you take when you know the talent is worth it. His visit alone injects some real stakes into Saturday beyond the usual rivalry drama.

Top targets from 2027 also expected in Columbia

The headliners do not top at Baker. South Carolina is also hosting several major 2027 prospects, all of whom have early offers both the Gamecocks and Clemson. These battles are already underway, and Saturday's environment could help shape the direction of each recruitment. The group includes:

• David Segarra
• Nate Carson
• Jaiden Bryant
• Seth Tillman
• Joshua Dobson

According to early confirmations, Segarra, Carson, Bryant and Tillman are all expected to be inside Williams Brice Stadium for the game. All five are considered high-priority prospects by multiple programs across the country, not just the two in-state rivals.

Rivalry Week creates an ideal recruiting stage

There are few environments in college football as electric as the South Carolina vs. Clemson game. Recruits feel every bit of it, the noise, the tension, the passion and pageantry, and the sense that game means more.

For committed visitors, it reinforces the decision. For uncommitted recruits, it becomes a bit of a stress test, for the right fit, the culture, and connection.

Beamer and his coaching staff will not have to manufacture energy; Williams-Brice delivers that on its own. If the Gamecocks show out on the field and the atmosphere of Willy-B hits the way rivalry week always does, Saturday could become a pivotal moment both for the recruiting class and the future of the program.