Signing day in college football can feel like a litmus test for belief. Fan bases start to talk vision, coaches preach about patience and rebuilding, and every winter we all stare down a list of teenagers and try to forecast the future of our team. This recruiting season is a little different Columbia. After a horrendous 4-8 season, fans were left with little to believe in. But as the "#WelcomeHome" posts came in, one after another, this week, there seemed to be a little glimmer in Gamecock Nation. One thing is for certain, Shane Beamer can recruit, and this class if full of identity, geographic strategy, and real competitive edge.
And let's be honest, Beamer needed a class that looked like a turning point. And he has delivered one that feels like a blueprint for change. The Gamecocks closed the early signing period with 15 signees, headlined by quarterback Landon Duckworth. The class is built around trench power, defensive versatility, and a commitment to reclaiming the state of South Carolina. Six in-state players signed, and the class carries the kind of balance that wins long-term.
Let's break it down and meet the class.
By Position
Offense (6)
- QB (1): Landon Duckworth
- WR (1): Sequel Patterson
- TE (1): Caden Ramsey
- OL (3): Anthony Baxter, Darius Gray, Zyon Guiles
Defense (9)
- DL (2): Noah Clark, Aiden Harris
- EDGE (1): Julian Walker
- LB (2): Keenan Britt, Andrew Harris
- DB (4): Kosci Barnes, J’Zavien Currence, KJ Johnson, Triston Lewis
Where They Came From
- South Carolina (6): Baxter, Currence, Guiles, Lewis, Patterson, Ramsey, Walker
- North Carolina (5): Barnes, Clark, Patterson, Aiden Harris, Andrew Harris
- Alabama (3): Britt, Duckworth, KJ Johnson
- Virginia (1): Darius Gray
Headliners Who Change the Trajectory
Landon Duckworth, QB, Jackson, Alabama
Duckworth is the lone QB and crown jewel for the Gamecocks. He is a dual-threat, multi-sport athlete with championship DNA. A 44-7 career and Elite 11 résumé don't lie. Duckworth's arm talent plus mobility gives South Carolina something they have missed this season.
Ratings:
On3: 144 / No. 10 QB
247: 151 / No. 10 QB
Rivals: 146 / No. 12 QB
Enrolling in January 2026.
Julian Walker, EDGE, Rock Hill, South Carolina
Walker flipping back from Michigan to stay home gives the Gamecocks a long, explosive edge defender who was heavily pursued by both Michigan and South Carolina. After helping to lead Dutch Fork High School to the state championship, he will make local fans proud as a Gamecock.
Ratings:
On3: 72 / No. 11 EDGE
247: 85 / No. 12 EDGE
Rivals: 26 / No. 6 EDGE
Enrolling in January 2026.
J’Zavien Currence, DB, Rock Hill, South Carolina
At 6-foot-4, 200 pounds with elite ball skills, Currence is one of the most versatile defensive backs in the state. Mr. Football finalist. Shrine Bowl invitee. Quarterback, receiver, safety, he has done it all.
Ratings:
On3: 88 / No. 9 DB
247: 74 / No. 6 DB
ESPN: 100 / No. 6
Enrolling in January 2026.
Trech Power That Can Change Identity
Anthony Baxter, OL, Rock Hill, South Carolina
Mean and massive at 6-foot-4, 340 pounds. Shrine Bowl selection. Offensive guard and tackle. Anchor in the interior. South Carolina through and through.
Zyon Guiles, OL, Georgetown, South Carolina
True tackle frame, long, athletic, and carries the highest upside of the group. Mr. Football finalist.
Darius Gray, OL, Chesterfield, Viginia
One of the best pure athletes at offense line in the country. Two-way player. Prep League Player of the Year. He is the No. 1 interior in the state of Virginia. This is the most underrated take in the class.
Defensive Line Reload
Noah Clark, DL, Durham, North Carolina
A 6-foot-4, 345 pounds with hands and instant run-stopping help. Shrine Bowl invite. One of the most productive DTs in the Carolinas in the last few years.
Aiden Harris, DL, Shellman, Georgia
An explosive disruptor who posted 31 tackles for loss in 2024. Nephew of NFL great Thomas Davis. Track background shows up in his speed.
Linebacker Room Just Got Real
Keenan Britt, LB, Oxford, Alabama
Younger brother of former Auburn/NFL LB K.J. Britt, and plays like it. Stacks, sheds, and strikes. Over 120 tackles and 18 TFL as a junior.
Andrew Harris, LB, Shellman, Georgia
Big, athletic, and smart. Multisport. Great range, strong frame. Another January enrollee.
Defensive Backfield: Tall, Fast, and Physical
Kosci Barnes, DB, Greensboro, North Carolina
A 6-foot-2 corner with length, production, and multi-sport athleticism. Grimsley product with 59 tackles, six TFL, and three INTs in 2024. Enrolling in 2026.
KJ Johnson, DB, Birmingham, Alabama
Fluid, fearless, and productive. First Woodlawn High School player ever selected for the Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Game.
Triston Lewis, DB, Greenwood, South Carolina
Big, strong, and versatile at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds. Lakelands Player of the Year. Baseball arm touches 93 miles per hour. That kind of explosiveness shows up in his breaks.
Offensive Playmakers
Sequel Patterson, WR, Charlotte, North Carolina
Originally a 2027 prospect who reclassified. Shifty, competitive, and can play both sides of the ball. Strong hands and high motor.
Caden Ramsey, TE, Cross, South Carolina
Reliable, physical, and gives the offense another big-bodied matchup piece. Caught 55 passes for 778 yards and nine TDs.
So, What Does this Class Mean for South Carolina?
This class isn't just about rankings. It's about trajectory, identity, and proof of concept. South Carolina locked down the state, beat out national programs for premium talent, stacked the trenches with real SEC bodies, loaded the defensive backfield with length and athleticism, and landed a true franchise quarterback.
Is it enough to transform the on-field product overnight? Not yet. But is it enough to crack the door back open on believing in Beamer’s long game? It just might be.