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How South Carolina got Oluwatosin Babalade back in the class

On3 imageby:Collyn Taylor•12/23/22•

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Shane Beamer climbed into a tree not once, but twice, to help South Carolina land a prized recruit. 

Recruiting is odd and there are stories like that across the country about coaches doing whatever necessary, but usually never twice.

But that’s what Beamer had to do to help the Gamecocks land four-star offensive lineman Oluwatosin Babalade, who decommitted from South Carolina only to recommit days later. 

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“We started talking a lot more Sunday, Monday and into (Wednesday) as well,” Beamer said. “I may or may not have FaceTimed with him on Monday night and gone out in the front yard of my house and climbed another tree to prove a point. He’s a great kid and excited he’s back with us for good.”

Babalade–affectionately known as Big Tree–was one of the key pieces of South Carolina’s offensive line class, a four-star prospect and the No. 179 player in the 2023 class. 

He picked the Gamecocks in August, choosing them over the likes of Ohio State, North Carolina, Rutgers, N.C. State and Michigan. 

The Maryland native–and DeMatha product–de-committed, though, soon after fellow DeMatha alum MarShawn Lloyd transferred from South Carolina. 

Some of that news began to trickle out while the Gamecocks were with Babalade. He opted to reopen his recruitment a day later. 

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“Tree reached out that it was a lot coming at him. He and MarShawn went to the same high school…I think there was just a lot. Not that he and MarShawn were classmates but there was a familiarity…It was a lot for him. It wasn’t like we just wore him out. I gave him some space and talked to him on Monday and talked about the fact he chose South Carolina for a lot of reasons,” Beamer said. 

“Whether MarShawn was here or not, MarShawn was probably going to be gone after the 2023 season anyway. Let’s not base your decision on getting to play with a guy or not play with a guy for six months.”

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The Gamecocks stayed the course, keeping an open and honest line of communication with Babalade, ultimately landing him. Beamer’s arbor antics certainly didn’t hurt.

They withstood a strong push from Maryland–a budding rival on the recruiting trail–and picked up Babalade’s signature Wednesday morning. 

“It’s not like the communication ever shut off. We kept open communication, were honest with him and dealt with what was reality,” Beamer said. Those were the reasons he chose South Carolina.” 

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Babalade is a key piece to South Carolina’s No. 17-ranked recruiting class. He’s the fifth-highest-rated prospect in it and the second-highest offensive player behind Markee Anderson (No. 119 in On3’s rankings).

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