South Carolina lands Signing Day commitment from fast-rising player at position of need
On Wednesday, the Gamecocks picked up a National Signing Day pledge from 3-star defensive tackle Christian Ingram. He also signed with Carolina during a ceremony at his school on Wednesday morning. The Georgia native announced his decision live on social media.
Ingram, who was a late riser in the recruiting industry, picked South Carolina over serious interest from the Kentucky Wildcats, Vanderbilt Commodores, Michigan Wolverines, and “the other USC,” the Southern Cal Trojans.
The Georgia native is an On3 industry composite 3-star recruit. He is the No. 497 prospect in the country, the No. 65 recruit in the Peach State, and No. 48 among defensive linemen. Two other major recruiting outlets also rate Ingram as a 4-star prospect.
Ingram joins linebacker AJ Holloway, EDGE Kobby Sakyi-Prah, defensive back Chris Hatfield, and junior college defensive tackle Zavion Hardy as Georgia defenders signing with the Gamecocks.
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Ingram most recently made a trip out to Los Angeles, but a visit to Columbia the week prior seems to have made a bigger impression. Ingram told On3’s Steve Wiltfong that “[The other schools in his recruitment] don’t even compare.” Shane Beamer’s South Carolina football program is home for Christian Ingram.
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As a player, Ingram is an intriguing prospect. Listed at 6’5.5″ and 280 pounds, he is a long, athletic defensive tackle. He’s built very similarly to current Gamecocks and future NFL tackles TJ Sanders and Tonka Hemingway but taller. Like Sanders and Hemingway, he is a defensive tackle but is athletic enough to kick outside in certain situations. He only recently returned to playing football, but the move back to the gridiron has paid off for him. Ingram provides interior pass rush juice and an intriguing size-athleticism combo.
Defensive tackle also is a huge position of need for South Carolina moving forward. With Sanders (likely NFL), Hemingway (graduation/NFL), Boogie Huntley (graduation/NFL), DeAndre Jules (graduation/NFL), and Jamaal Whyce (transfer portal) all leaving or expected to leave the program at some point this offseason, USC has very little returning production in Travian Robertson’s position room. Ingram will help restock the coffers and could even play early if things go well for him.
The Gamecocks’ strong finish to the 2024 season and the upward trajectory of the program were important in Ingram’s decision-making. He recently told Wiltfong, “With Coach Beamer there, [South Carolina’s] ceiling is unmatched.”
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At this time, Ingram is one of three defensive tackles in the 2025 South Carolina football recruiting class. Caleb Williams, another athletic 3-star prospect from Chesterfield, Virginia, is the other high school pledge. Junior college tackle Zavion Hardy also flipped his commitment from Mississippi State earlier in the day.
