South Carolina rises in On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings

South Carolina landed its latest victory on the recruiting trail Monday when Upper Marlboro (Md.) Charles Herbert Flowers four-star EDGE Desmond Umeozulu committed to the Gamecocks. His decision elevated the Gamecocks’ 2023 recruiting class to No. 16 in the 2023 On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings and No. 6 in the SEC.

Umeozulu is the No. 172 overall prospect and No. 25 EDGE in the 2023 On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 4 player in Maryland.

The 6-foot-6, 239 pound prospect chose South Carolina over North Carolina, Ohio State and Pittsburgh. He is the Gamecocks’ sixth commitment this month.

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Umeozulu is the latest blue-chip recruit to choose South Carolina

Heading into his second season in Columbia, head coach Shane Beamer and his coaching staff are building a strong recruiting class. Of South Carolina’s 20 commitments, 10 are four-star recruits. Seven of them are top-300 recruits, four of whom committed in August.

Those prospects are Umeozulu, Macon (Ga.) Tattnall Square Academy four-star defensive lineman Zavion Hardy, Camden (S.C.) four-star defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod and Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic four-star offensive tackle Oluwatosin Babalade. Meanwhile, Roebuck (S.C.) Dorman four-star interior offensive lineman Markee Anderson, Sandersville (Ga.) Washington County four-star running back Dontavius Braswell and Jacksonville (Fla.) Andrew Jackson four-star linebacker Grayson Howard are the Gamecocks’ other top recruits.

Hardy and McLeod announced their commitments within three days of one another. South Carolina has also landed August commitments from Carrollton (Ga.) three-star athlete Vicari Swain and Perry (Fla.) Taylor County three-star safety Cameron Upshaw.

The momentum behind the rise of South Carolina’s recruiting class can be found on the defensive side of the ball. In July, the Gamecocks had no commitments from defensive lineman or EDGE prospects. Now, they have pledges from Umeozulu, Hardy, McLeod and Sumter (S.C.) four-star EDGE Monteque Rhames. Only two players are ranked ahead of Umeozulu in the Gamecocks’ group: Hardy and Anderson, the No. 139 overall prospect in the On3 Consensus.

In addition to South Carolina’s seven top-300 prospects, other blue-chip prospects have committed to the Gamecocks this summer. They include Rhames and Fort Myers (Fla.) Lehigh Senior four-star wide receiver Kelton Henderson, who announced his decision on June 12.