South Carolina heads out to recruit with 'momentum' after win
South Carolina might not be playing a game this Saturday, but this is a pivotal week for the Gamecocks program.
As players head out of Columbia Thursday to spend time with family during the bye week, the Gamecocks’ coaching staff will hit the road recruiting across the country.
Unlike last year, though, South Carolina gets to do it after a win.
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“Any time you get on the road recruiting is huge. This week especially coming off a win we had last Saturday night,” Shane Beamer said. “There’s a lot of excitement and buzz about our football program right now because of the way we played last Saturday. Being able to capitalize on that momentum and out and about the next few days from the recruiting standpoint.”
South Carolina practiced Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week with players getting Thursday, Friday and Saturday off to spend however they please.
The Gamecocks’ coaches will hit the road to see prospects Thursday and Friday, some heading home Saturday before everyone reconvenes Sunday to begin Texas A&M preparations.
It’s the biggest push left for the Gamecocks’ 2023 class before the end of the regular season.
“It’s great to have some momentum going on the road this week. After last Saturday we’ve heard from a lot of recruits. And our coaches are excited to get out and see some prospects this week,” Beamer said. “We’ll always start with high school recruiting. that’s never going to change.”
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This year recruiting is a little different with no initial counter limit, meaning the Gamecocks can take as many high school or transfer portal players as they want to as long as they stay under the scholarship limit.
Moving forward, the portal is still obviously an option. But Beamer and his staff prioritize high school recruiting and getting four-year players into the program.
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“If we could sign a maximum number of guys from the high school ranks we would. That’s not always feasible and doable. that’s when you’re able to use the transfer portal if we need to. As we go into it, we have a lot of needs right now at a lot of positions. We went into the 2023 class saying here’s the specific number of guys we want to sign at that position,” Beamer said.
“There are a couple of positions where we’re nowhere close to where we need to be. It’s a long time until signing day but that’s where we are. We’ll see how things go over the next couple of months.”
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On3 ranks South Carolina’s 2023 class No. 18 nationally right now with 20 total commitments.
Of those, 55 percent are considered blue-chip prospects, headlined by in-state offensive lineman Markee Anderson.
Right now South Carolina has five offensive linemen committed. The Gamecocks’ class also includes four either defensive tackles or edge players, one linebacker, four defensive backs, two tight ends, a pair of receivers, a running back and Vicari Swain, who’s listed as an athlete.
As the Gamecocks hit the road this week, Beamer is eyeing every position while rounding out the recruiting class.
“We’re targeting everything,” he said. “You’re balancing that off guys and where they’re at in school on your own team and project what next year’s roster is going to look like. To me, at every position we’re recruiting we’re trying to get the very best players.”
