South Carolina makes top 5 for DMV defensive back
On Thursday evening, DeMatha Catholic defensive back Darrell Carey announced his top 5, and South Carolina football made the cut. The Hyattsville, Maryland native also included the Maryland Terrapins, Penn State Nittany Lions, Oregon Ducks, and Texas A&M Aggies on his list.
Carey, an unranked class of 2026 safety according to On3, has earned 3-star recognition from Rivals and ESPN. South Carolina is one of 12 public offers for Carey from major conference programs.The Gamecocks were one of his first major offers all the way back in May of 2024. He has official visits scheduled to both Penn State and Maryland in June.
Many in the recruiting industry view Penn State as the favorite in this one. Perhaps helping South Carolina’s chances, though, Gamecock offensive lineman Tree Babalade is a DeMatha Catholic graduate and one of several DMV-area prospects who have chosen Shane Beamer’s program in recent years.
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On the field, Carey is a long, rangy safety who can play in coverage and step up in run support. He runs well but has even better instincts. When the ball is in the air, Carey has a knack for jumping routes and/or separating receivers from the football. He also is a heavy hitter who likes to make receivers and ballcarriers pay for challenging him.
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Listed at 6-2 and 180 pounds, Carey is comfortable playing in multiple spots on the defense. He plays a lot of snaps in the box and as a deep safety, but he’s also played in the slot and in short zones out wide.
Carey has experience playing offense for his DaMatha Catholic squad, as well. As a receiver, he shows off his athleticism and ball skills. That ability shows up on his defensive film.
