South Carolina receives prediction to land one of the nation's top uncommitted quarterbacks

Shane Beamer and South Carolina are building yet another top-25 class in the On3 Industry Football Team Recruiting Rankings. But the Gamecocks have a big hole at quarterback left after the decommitment of four-star quarterback pledge Landon Duckworth last summer.

Nearly a year later though, Duckworth’s recruitment could be coming full circle — and arriving back where it began. On Monday, On3 VP of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong logged an expert prediction for the Jackson (Ala.) star to ultimately re-commit to the Gamecocks.

“Duckworth is the top target at the position and plays in the same mold as current Heisman contender LaNorris Sellers. South Carolina has passed on pursuing other signal-callers to stay in the Duckworth hunt,” Wiltfong wrote.

… It could pay off. Shula has picked up the relationship where Dowell Logains left off and head coach Shane Beamer has never relented. I moved my expert pick for Duckworth to land at South Carolina on the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. It was previously on Ole Miss. On3’s Pete Nakos is also predicting Duckworth to land at South Carolina.”

The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder originally committed to play for the Gamecocks in August 2023, when he was just beginning his sophomore season.

Gamecocks have continued to pursue Duckworth

A year later though, he decommitted. Schools like Ole Miss, Georgia, Florida State and Auburn remained in pursuit of him. And after a stellar junior season where he led Jackson to a state title, Duckworth lined up official visits with the Gamecocks, Rebels, Seminoles and Tigers. All the while, South Carolina and new OC Mike Shula never relented on getting him back.

He visits the Gamecocks this upcoming weekend. And it won’t be surprising to see a commitment in the next few weeks.

“If I am ready to commit before the season, I want to, but if not, I will wait,” Duckworth told On3’s Chad Simmons in February. “What’s important to me is the atmosphere at the school, the way the coaches treat me, how the offensive is and the background of the coaches and their development.”

Duckworth’s junior campaign finished with 3,109 passing yards, 34 touchdowns and nine interceptions through the air. He also ran for 631 yards and 12 TDs in 14 games.

According to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, he is the nation’s No. 61 overall recruit and No. 6 quarterback prospect.