4-star athlete Jalewis Solomon commits to South Carolina: 'South Carolina is the school for me'

Ellaville (Ga.) Schley County four-star athlete Jalewis Solomon recently backed off his commitment to Auburn. Back in August, the two-way star picked the Tigers over South Carolina at the last minute. That interest in the Gamecocks never went away.

Solomon stayed in contact with the staff in Columbia and traveled back for the game against Florida. South Carolina just feels like home.

“I like Auburn a lot and they did nothing wrong, but my interest has just always been high on South Carolina,” Solomon told On3. “South Carolina made me feel at home, they always made me feel important and it is where I want to be.

“Auburn is a great school and the coaches are great, but I have to make the best decision for me. I just have that feeling about South Carolina and I feel it is the best place for me.”

Interest in Gamecocks started at Tennessee game

Prior to going to South Carolina’s game against Tennessee last November, Solomon had never really thought about playing in Columbia before. That changed once he saw what a game day atmosphere at the school was like.

That night Solomon watched as the Gamecocks knocked off the number one team in the country in blowout fashion. He also saw a future for himself in Columbia helping the Gamecocks get back to the top of the SEC.

“That game blew me,” said Solomon, the No. 269 player in the 2024 class. “I just wanted to just go down there and see how it was for a game. They told me that if I came up for a game it wouldn’t be disappointed and it didn’t disappoint. Since then I’ve always had loved for South Carolina and it’s been going up ever since.”

…They’re on the come-up and for me, I’m not trying to go to a Georgia or Alabama. I want to help a team rebuild and get where they need to go. I feel like South Carolina is that school for me and I can come in and make a big impact for that program on day one.

Solomon only wants to play for Shane Beamer

Position-wise, South Carolina defensive backs coach Torrian Gray is a guy that Solomon believes will get him to the NFL. Shane Beamer is the coach that Solomon believes will get South Carolina back to the top of the SEC and college football landscape.

Between Beamer’s relationship with his family and the progress he’s made in just a few years in Columbia, Solomon sees a bright future for himself playing under Beamer.

“Coach Beamer loves my family,” Solomon said. “Any time I bring my family around, he always shows excitement and he makes my family a big priority to him. He’s eager to win and that’s all he wants to do.

…Coach Beamer’s making South Carolina the best place for all of his players. I wouldn’t want to play for any other coach than him.”