South Carolina climbs in On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings

South Carolina notched its latest win on the recruiting trail Friday when Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic four-star offensive tackle Oluwatosin Babalade committed to the Gamecocks. A pledge from the 6-foot-5, 305 pound prospect boosted South Carolina’s 2023 recruiting class to No. 21 in the 2023 On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings. Babalade’s decision also helped the Gamecocks’ group climb one spot from No. 22.

“I want to try a new path, be in that great environment at South Carolina, and compete in the SEC, the best league in college football,” Babalade told On3’s Chad Simmons.

Babalade is the No. 272 overall prospect and No. 20 offensive tackle in the 2023 On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also rated as the No. 7 player in Maryland. On3 ranks Babalade even higher as the No. 167 overall prospect, the No. 15 offensive tackle and the No. 3 player in Maryland.

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Babalade continues stellar stretch for South Carolina

Within the last six days, South Carolina has notched commitments from Babalade, Roebuck (S.C.) Dorman four-star interior offensive lineman Markee Anderson, Sumter (S.C.) four-star EDGE Monteque Rhames and Villa Rica (Ga.) three-star offensive tackle Jatavius Shivers. As a result, the Gamecocks’ class has shot into the top 25 of the Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings.

South Carolina’s group currently contains 17 prospects, composed of nine four-stars and eight three-stars. Babalade is the fourth-highest rated prospect of the group behind Anderson, Jacksonville (Fla.) Andrew Jackson four-star linebacker Grayson Howard and Sandersville (Ga.) Washington County four-star running back Dontavius Braswell. He is also South Carolina’s third offensive tackle pledge alongside Shivers and a junior college transfer in Snow College (Utah) offensive tackle Isaiah Jatta.

While Babalade is the Gamecocks’ first commitment of August, South Carolina had a stellar July on the recruiting trail. The program landed Anderson, Rhames, Shivers, Braswell and Lake City (Fla.) Columbia four-star linebacker Jaden Robinson. 

June was even more successful for head coach Shane Beamer and his staff. Howard, Jatta, Fort Myers (Fla.) Lehigh Senior four-star wide receiver Kelton Henderson, Eatonton (Ga.) Putnam County four-star safety Jalon Kilgore, Jacksonville (Fla.) The Bolles School three-star tight end Connor Cox committed that month. Others who announced their pledge to the Gamecocks in June include Mableton (Ga.) Pebblebrook three-star wide receiver CJ Adams, Anniston (Ala.) Anniston School three-star tight end Kamron Sandlin and Rock Hill (S.C.) Legion Collegiate three-star safety Judge Collier.