South Carolina adds 'great group of linemen' on National Signing Day

Shane Beamer and South Carolina wrapped up a successful early signing day on Wednesday.

After intentionally putting a lot of work into recruiting offensive and defensive linemen last year, Beamer and his coaching staff did so again this year.

South Carolina signed 10 players between the two position groups Wednesday, two of which are transfers.

It makes sense that adding depth to the trenches was of the utmost importance to Beamer, especially considering both position groups are aging rapidly.

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“We knew, defensively, that Zacch (Pickens) was probably leaving for the draft anyway, MJ Webb’s an older guy, you’ve got older guys behind them with Tonka (Hemingway) and Boogie Huntley,” Beamer said. “And then offensively, with Eric Douglas, (Dylan) Wonnum, (Jovaughn) Gwyn, Hank Manos, Wyatt Campbell, all those being older guys – that room gets really empty pretty quickly.”

On the offensive side of the ball South Carolina officially signed Markee Anderson, Oluwatosin “Big Tree” Babalade, Trovon Baugh, Jatavius Shivers and Yale transfer Nick Gargiulo.

Beamer spoke very highly of Gargiulo’s experience and the toughness he brings to the program. The Yale graduate’s leadership capabilities were just another reason that Beamer was excited to add him to the roster.

“At Yale, you just pick one (captain), and it’s the one guy that has the most votes and he is the captain of the whole football team forever,” Beamer said. “And that was Nick, which is pretty awesome.”

Another key piece the Gamecocks officially added today was Markee Anderson. The four-star guard is the highest-rated recruit in South Carolina’s class this year and is the No. 2 recruit in the Palmetto State for 2023.

Beamer sounded almost relieved to have Anderson’s signature on the letter of intent. Anderson committed before the season but had offers from the likes of Clemson, North Carolina, and LSU.

“What a great player, what a big recruiting battle that was for us to win for sure,” Beamer said of Anderson.

Babalade, who is the second-highest-rated offensive lineman in South Carolina’s class this year and the fourth-highest overall, is another one that Beamer likely breathed a sigh of relief when he signed today.

The four-star recruit from DeMatha Catholic decommitted a week ago but recommitted on Tuesday night.

Beamer said communication was never shut off with Babalade after he decomitted, adding that he gave Babalade space and is excited to have him back.

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“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 while I was on the phone with him just to prove a point,” Beamer said.

Beamer also lauded Baugh and Shivers – both highly touted offensive linemen from the state of Georgia – during his national signing day press conference. He said the two are “great players”.

Defensively, South Carolina secured Desmond Umeozulu, Xzavier McLeod, Monteque Rhames and junior college transfer Elijah Davis on Wednesday. Zavion Hardy remains committed but hasn’t signed officially at the time of publication.

McLeod, like Anderson, was another big recruiting win for Beamer and the Gamecocks.

“Xavier McLeod from here in-state, another huge recruiting battle that we had to win against some of the best teams in the country,” Beamer said.

McLeod is right behind Anderson in the Palmetto State rankings, coming in at No. 3 in On3’s rankings. The defensive linemen from Camden, South Carolina also had offers from Power 5 schools like Alabama, Georgia, LSU and Michigan.

Davis, like Girgulio, is a player that comes in and gives the Gamecocks immediate help, Beamer said. Davis is a native of Wagener, South Carolina and comes to Columbia from East Mississippi Community College – aka Scooba Tech, the JUCO featured on Netflix’s “Last Chance U”.

Beamer said Davis has been on his radar since he took the head job at South Carolina, and it was a matter of time before he became a Gamecock.

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“I remember when I first got hired here two years ago … we were watching Elijah’s high school tape and knew that he may end up having to go a roundabout way to get here,” Beamer said. “But it was whatever we got to do to get this kid back here in two years, let’s do it.”

Rhames is another in-state defensive lineman that Beamer was proud of securing on Wednesday.

A Sumter High School product, Rhames is a four-star edge rusher and the No. 4 ranked recruit from South Carolina in the class of 2023. Beamer was also excited about the addition of Umeozulu, saying that both he and Rhames will help provide depth to the position after the departure of Gilber Edmond to the transfer portal.

“It’s just a great group of linemen,” Beamer said. “Credit those coaches and our whole staff for winning, for getting those guys here. Because if you look at who we signed, we had to win some major, major recruiting battles against some major, major programs to get those guys here.”

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