The approach to success in college football is a multi-faceted plan. It’s more than X’s and O’s on the field, it’s patience, team-building, retention, and recruiting. “Jimmies and Joes are better than X’s and O’s” as the saying goes.
Shane Beamer’s South Carolina Gamecocks broke through with a nine-win season in 2024 and are looking to build on that. They lost talent to the NFL, but lost almost nothing in the transfer portal while adding several potential starters. But could the key be an elite 2026 recruiting class, maybe the best class is South Carolina recruiting history?
South Carolina Positioning Itself For Historic 2026 Recruiting Class
The Gamecocks have recruited well under Shane Beamer, both at the high school ranks and in the transfer portal.
Per On3’s Industry Rankings, South Carolina’s 2025 class had 18 blue-chippers (Consensus four-star or five-star prospects) the most in school history, breaking a record of 16 in the 2023 class. By the way, superstar quarterback was in that 2023 class, but wasn’t considered a blue-chipper.
But 2026 looks like it could be even better.
The Gamecocks have secured official visits from seven of the top 55 players in the 2026 class. That includes two of the top six quarterbacks in the industry rankings in consensus five-star Jared Curtis (second in my 2026 QB Recruiting Rankings) and Brady Smiegel (eighth in my rankings).
While an official visit and an actual signing are very different things, the Gamecocks have positioned themselves well. They seem to be heavy favorites for St. Christopher’s School (VA) offensive lineman Darius Gray, who is in range to finish as a five-star recruit, and defensive back Samari Matthews of Hough (NC) High School, ranked 55th in the consensus rankings, but a guy I’ve personally scouted and would put in the five-star range.
KEEP READING: Top 2025 QB Recruits
No. 20 overall recruit Rodney Dunham and No. 34 Aiden Harris, both defensive linemen from Charlotte, are high on the Gamecocks Beamer and staff are in hot pursuit. Dunham, in particular, has visited Columbia regularly and there’s a great deal of mutual interest. Not only are these two guys who would be significant recruiting wins, but they’re guys with the skills and bodies to make an immediate impact.
The Gamecocks are also heavily in the running for two other top 100 in-state recruits. No. 77 overall J’Zavien Currence is a big-bodied safety prospect the staff feels could be the next coming of Nick Emmanwori, while Carvers Bay (SC) High School interior offensive lineman Zyon Guiles is a guy On3 has ranked in the top 100. Right now, South Carolina is setting the pace there.
Finally, the Gamecocks secured an official visit from On3’s No. 1 overall prospect, St. Frances Academy (MD) edge rusher and Maryland commit Zion Elee. The competition is fierce, but never count out edges coach Sterling Lucas.
If that pattern sounds familiar, think back to the class of 2024, when Lucas and South Carolina shocked the recruiting industry by landing superstar Dylan Stewart from D.C.
Stewart is still at South Carolina after an incredible freshman year in which he earned our Defensive Freshman of the Year award and slotted in as the No. 2 true freshman in the country.
Top 100 True Freshmen in College Football in 2024: Jeremiah Smith an Unsurprising No. 1
The class isn’t just built on potential. The Gamecocks have five commits, including two of the top four in-state, and it’s ranked 13th. They’ve locked down the Palmetto State as well, as they likely lead the way for six of the top eight in-state prospects, with a strong chance to flip a seventh in Rutgers Scarlet Knights RB commit Jaylen McGill.
Oh, and the Gamecocks lost two of their top four 2026 recruits to re-classification. Those guys are on campus as part of the 2025 class.
Gone are the days of the Gamecocks struggling in North Carolina, as they’ve taken advantage of upheaval among the Tar Heel State’s college football teams. The Gamecocks have a legitimate shot to land six of the top 17 in a historic North Carolina high school recruiting class after swiping two of the top 10 in 2025.
Sustaining success there will be key, as the 2027 class is the best I’ve ever scouted in North Carolina, with 36 players boasting Power Four grades from me.
Also See: Top 300 Prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft
What’s Next For the Gamecocks on the Recruiting Trail?
South Carolina fans should circle June 20 on their calendars.
That’s going to be crucial to South Carolina’s success. In town that weekend are Curtis, Matthews, and Gray, as well as four-star offensive linemen G’Nivre Carr and Desmond Green and four-star safety Tamarion Watkins, as well as corner commit Peyton Dyer.
South Carolina loves to get its most dedicated commits in for official visits on the same weekend as their highest-priority uncommitted targets. Expect one or two of those uncommitted guys to pledge to the Gamecocks on or before that weekend.
Also See: Scouting the Top 100 Players in the 2025 NFL Draft
No matter how good things look on the recruiting trail, though, the Gamecocks have to continue to win. Beamer has more wins in his first four years than any South Carolina coach before him.
But the Gamecocks have to keep winning. An underwhelming season on the field, in what could be Sellers’ last season in Garnet and Black could extinguish all recruiting momentum.
But if you build it, they will come. And an eight or nine-win season could turn a great class into the best in school history, further propelling the Gamecocks into the National spotlight.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.
