Video Breakdown: South Carolina hosting huge recruiting weekend

It’s a busy weekend for South Carolina football. The Gamecocks are set to welcome 13 official visitors for the class of 2023 on campus starting on Friday.

4-star DL Kelby Collins

We begin the list with four-star defensive lineman Kelby Collins out of Gardendale, AL. Standing at 6-5, 278 pounds, Collins is the consensus seventh ranked defensive lineman in the nation. He took an unofficial visit to Columbia back in April.

4-star QB Dylan Lonergan

Four-star quarterback Dylan Lonergan will be making his fifth visit to South Carolina. On3 currently has USC as the favorite to land the 6-1, 220 pound four star recruit out of Brookwood High School in Georgia who ranks ninth nationally for his position. Lonergan is also a star pitcher who holds multiple Power 5 offers and could be drafted next year.

4-star WR Jaden Greathouse

Jaden Greathouse from Austin, TX is a four-star rated wide receiver who took an unofficial visit to USC back in April. At 6-2, 219 pounds, Greathouse is the 20th ranked wide out in the nation by On3. Last week he visited Oklahoma and following this weekend’s trip to Columbia, he has official visits lined up with Notre Dame next weekend followed by Texas the weekend after.

4-star EDGE Desmond Umeozulu

Maryland native Desmond Umeozulu will also be on hand this weekend. A four-star rated edge, he has plenty of height to him at 6-6, 222 pounds. He’s rated 25th in the nation for his position by on3 and is being heavily recruited by ACC schools. While this will be his first official visit to South Carolina, Umeozulu took an unofficial visit to Columbia last month on May 2.

4-star EDGE Jaybron Harvey

Staying with edge players, Jaybron Harvey will be making the 184 mile trip down from Durham, NC for his official visit this weekend. Standing just shy of 6-3, On3 has him listed as the 30th top edge for the class of 2023. While On3 has UNC as the current front runners to land Harvey, where he took an official visit last week, the recruiting prediction machine has the Gamecocks in the mix right behind the Tar Heels.

4-star RB Dontavius Braswell

Four-star running back Dontavious Braswell from Sandersville, GA will be making his second visit to USC. Ranked the 19th top running back in the nation, the Washing County product who is listed at 5’11, 190 pounds took an official visit at Nebraska last weekend. He plans on taking an official visit to Boston College on June 24.

4-star WR Carmelo Taylor

Wide receiver Carmelo Taylor from Roanoke, VA will also be in attendance. On3’s recruiting prediction machine has the four-star wide out’s recruitment currently a two team race with USC holding a slight edge over Penn State. Rated the 45th overall wide receiver for the class of 2023, this will be Taylor’s first official visit with another set in two weeks for Penn State.

4-star S Jalon Kilgore

Another frontrunner that On3 has to land with the Gamecocks is four-star safety Jalon Kilgore. The Puntnam County (GA) standout is rated 31st in the nation for his position for the class of 2023. Including three unofficial visits, this will be Kilgore’s fourth visit to Columbia and first since USC’s spring game.

4-star ATH/WR Kelton Henderson

Kelton Henderson will be making the trip to the Midlands up from Fort Myers, FL. Listed as an athlete/wide receiver, he’s rated as the 20th rated athlete for the class of 2023. This will be his first visit on South Carolina’s campus. He also has an official visit lined up with Michigan on June 24.

3-star (On3 4-star) OL Oluwatosin Babalade

Offensive lineman Oluwatosin Babalade is listed as a consensus three-star prospect but On3 has the Maryland product rated as a four-star for the class of 2023. He is the tenth ranked recruit coming out of Maryland for his class and the 38th overall offensive tackle. South Carolina is considered to be heavily in the mix for Babalade, along with Rutgers and North Carolina.

3-star TE Connor Cox

Tight end is a position that USC will certainly need to add depth to after this season and three-star recruit Connor Cox from Jacksonville, FL is a name to keep an eye on. Standing at 6-5, 220 pounds, Cox is ranked the 32nd overall tight end for the class of 2023 and has already took an unofficial visit to Columbia back in January.

3-star S  Braylon Johnson

Braylon Johnson, was a last minute addition to this weekend’s official visit group. The three-star defensive back from Virginia took to social media to share the news of his visit before confirming it to Gamecock Central earlier this week. The 69th ranked safety for the class of 2023, On3 currently has USC as the favorite to land Johnson by a wide margin that is followed by Virginia Tech and North Carolina.

3-star S Cameron Upshaw

Finally, another prospect from the Sunshine State, Camerson Upshaw. A three-star safety from Perry, FL, Upshaw has already took seven unofficial visits between Florida state and Florida. Despite this weekend being his first visit to USC, the On3 recruiting prediction machine currently has the Gamecocks in the mix, slightly between FSU and Maryland. Upshaw is scheduled to take official visits to Arkansas and Maryland the following two weeks.

In addition to this weekend, South Carolina will hold a second official visit weekend on June 24. Gamecock Central will have updates on who to expect on campus that weekend leading up to it.

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