New in-state EDGE commit Jaquavious Dodd: 'It's a dream come true'
Taylor’s (S.C.) Eastside class of 2025 On3 four-star EDGE Jaquavious Dodd took an unofficial visit to South Carolina on Thursday and left Columbia as an official member of the Gamecocks’ class, announcing a pledge on Thursday night.
“It feels amazing, man,” Dodd told GamecockCentral. “Hey, it’s a dream come true, really. It’s a dream come true. I’ve prayed for days like this, man.”
South Carolina offered Dodd in May after hosting him for an April campus visit and evaluating him during spring football.
Dodd, who also held offers from Virginia and Virginia Tech, gave the news directly to head coach Shane Beamer.
“We were just talking in the meeting room,” Dodd said. “And then once I got to it, I was like, so what about me taking my next step? He was like, what you mean, committing? I was like, yes sir. He was like, he never wants to force a commitment on players. I was like, yes sir, but I want to commit. Like, I was telling him that. He was like, all right. His energy went from one to 100 real quick. Like, it was crazy. Like, for real.”
The 6-foot-5.5, 235-pounder, who was recruited to Columbia by assistant Sterling Lucas, could not pass up the opportunity to play for the home-state school.
“It’s not too far away from home,” Dodd said. “South Carolina was one of the first camps that I went to. I fell in love with it. I fell in love with the coaching staff, fell in love with Coach Sterling, and I feel like he can develop me as a player and as a person.”
Dodd says he and Lucas maintain a special relationship.
“His outgoingness, like making little slick jokes and stuff like that, getting under your skin a little bit,” Dodd said. “He’ll be joking, but at the same time, he can get serious. I like a coach like that I can vibe with, if you understand that.”
On3 ranks Dodd as the No. 139 overall prospect in the class and the No. 14 EDGE.
The On3 Industry Ranking – a weighted average of all four major recruiting services – ranks Dodd as the No. 403 overall prospect, the No. 36 EDGE and No. 6 prospect in the Palmetto State.
The message from South Carolina was simple: come in ready to play.
“They were just saying, ’cause they’re losing three of their EDGE guys this coming year,” Dodd explained. “And we need more people in there. They say I’m one of the boys. I believe them. I believe in the program. And I believe that I can take my best foot forward and excel with the Carolina Gamecocks.”
Dodd, who had 13 sacks as a junior, is expected to make his official visit to Columbia during the 2024 season.
