Full circle! Top QB target Landon Duckworth is a Gamecock again
Jackson (Ala.) class of 2026 four-star quarterback Landon Duckworth‘s recruitment came full circle with his commitment to South Carolina on Friday night.
When the Blue Chip quarterback decommitted from the Gamecocks last June after being committed for nearly a year, the staff didn’t panic.
And when Mike Shula took over as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in December, he put the pedal down.
“Coach Shula came in and got right on me,” Duckworth recently told On3’s Chad Simmons. “He came down in the spring to see me, we have been talking a lot and he is one of the coolest coaches I have ever met. His message to me has always been the same: when you are ready to commit, just let me know.”
And Duckworth was finally ready.
Nearly two years since Duckworth originally committed to Carolina as a younger, lesser-known prospect, the Elite 11 quarterback announced his pledge to the Gamecocks Friday night during a ceremony in his hometown, choosing them over his other finalist, Auburn, and a host of other schools that offered like Ole Miss, Florida State, Georgia, Texas A&M, Florida, Oregon, North Carolina, and Arkansas, among others.
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“When I decommitted, there was no love lost for me,” Duckworth told On3 in the past. “Coach Beamer is a great coach and he has always been great with me. The connection that we have goes back a long time. Coach Beamer and the people there always make me feel at home.”
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The 6-foot-3, 180-pounder is the 13th commitment in the Gamecocks’ 2026 class and the third in the last three days.
Clarksville (Tenn.) Kirkwood four-star offensive tackle Kamari Blair announced his commitment to the Gamecocks on Wednesday night before Greenwood (S.C.) three-star “athlete” Triston Lewis joined the fold on Thursday afternoon.
As a junior, he racked up 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 Rivals Industry Ranking, Duckworth is the nation’s No. 85 overall recruit and No. 8 quarterback prospect in his class as well as the No. 5 prospect in Alabama.
