Four-star targets for South Carolina football Announcing their commitments to the Clemson Tigers and Georgia Bulldogs, respectively, were Bryce Davis and Cortez Smith.
South Carolina football is entering a critical period in the 2024 recruiting cycle, with at least nine key recruits set to announce their college choices between July 20 and August 3. Head coach Shane Beamer and his staff are well-positioned to secure commitments from several of these prospects.
On Saturday, the first two recruits made their decisions public: 4-star EDGE Bryce Davis from Greensboro, North Carolina, and 4-star offensive lineman Cortez Smith from Lilburn, Georgia. Davis, who had South Carolina, Georgia, Duke, and Clemson in his top four, chose to commit to Clemson, despite South Carolina, Duke, and Clemson making strong late pushes. Smith, who had been leaning towards Georgia for some time, ultimately committed to the Bulldogs over South Carolina and other finalists.
Looking ahead, South Carolina is targeting several other high-profile recruits, including 4-star safety Lagonza Hayward, 5-star EDGE Jared Smith, 4-star offensive linemen Juan Gaston and Jaylen Gilchrist, 4-star safety Kendall Daniels, and 4-star wide receiver Malik Clark. Although USC faces competition from major programs for these recruits, the Gamecocks are expected to secure a few commitments.
Currently, South Carolina is ranked 26th by On3 and 28th by 247Sports in team recruiting rankings. These rankings could improve significantly if the Gamecocks have a successful recruiting stretch in the coming weeks.