Is South Carolina football cooling on the recruiting trail? It’s not that simple

South Carolina football is almost here.

With the Gamecocks set for Year 2 under Shane Beamer, it’s time we take some questions from readers about their squad. Let’s dive into this week’s queries:

Do you think football recruiting is at risk of fizzling out a bit down the stretch? With the less-than-ideal news regarding (Jaden) Robinson and (Carmelo) Taylor, if they can’t reel in a couple of the big ones out there yet, does the momentum wane? (admittedly a pessimistic question) — Joel M.

Let’s be frank here, South Carolina’s — and really any team’s perceived recruiting success — tends to hinge on recency bias.

It’s only about a month or two ago that Florida fans wanted to chase Billy Napier out the door because the Gators got off to a slow start in the 2023 recruiting class. The response? Napier and his staff have the nation’s No. 10 class, per 247Sports, while 18 of their 20 pledges are rated four-star prospects.

Point being, these things come in waves.

I think Joel is referring to the reactionary nature of recruiting — such as when a commit flips to a Southeastern Conference rival or missing on a player who was considered a lean — and how South Carolina can keep its momentum despite those moments.

Four-star linebacker Jaden Robinson’s flip from USC to Florida hurt, but wasn’t altogether unexpected. (Landing an offer from the home-state Gators the day before he committed to South Carolina suggests as much.) Four-star receiver Carmelo Taylor’s recruitment was topsy-turvy before he picked Penn State. He changed his commitment date multiple times, and USC wasn’t really a factor until down the stretch.

That doesn’t wash away the success South Carolina has had on the recruiting trail this cycle.

Three of the Gamecocks’ six commitments since July 1 are four-star prospects. Two of its last three public pledges — offensive linemen Markee Anderson (Roebuck, SC) and Oluwatosin “Tree” Babalade (Hyattsville, Md.) — rank among the top four players in South Carolina’s 2023 class, per 247Sports.

USC also remains a front-runner for four-star, top-175 defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod (Camden), who will announce his commitment on Thursday. The Gamecocks are also in the mix for five-star defensive end Nyckoles Harbor (No. 10 player in 2023 class, per 247Sports) and four-star edge rusher Desmond Umeozulu (No. 165 player in 2023 class, per 247Sports) — who’s scheduled to commit on Aug. 29.

Each of McLeod, Harbor and Umeozulu have options. Georgia is on McLeod hard. Ohio State is likely the biggest factor for Umeozulu. Quite literally everyone wants Harbor.

Harbor or Umeozulu would be enormous coups out of the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia area). If South Carolina can nab either of those guys, their 2023 class could finish in the top-15 or so nationally.

A McLeod commitment would be particularly significant as it would give USC pledges from three of the top four players in the Palmetto State, along with four-star defensive lineman Monteque Rhames (Sumter) and Anderson (Dorman) and. That hasn’t happened since 2020, when the Gamecocks landed eight of the top 11 players in the state.

If South Carolina — as Beamer has suggested since he landed the job in December 2020 — want to compete for SEC championships, these are the blue chip recruiting battles it’ll have to win.

Now everyone take a deep breathe, and exhale.

Good morning Ben, how does USC plan on stopping the run better this season? — Mr. Rogers

Beautiful day in this neighborhood, isn’t it? OK, sorry. I couldn’t help myself.

Good question from Mr. Rogers. This is my biggest concern with the South Carolina defense this fall, though I think the Gamecocks are better equipped to deal with the run this year than they were last season.

South Carolina finished the 2021 campaign ranked 11th in the SEC in rush defense, allowing 175 yards per game on the ground. USC also surrendered 230 or more yards rushing in five of 10 games against Power Five competition.

That has to improve.

The first step ought to be a loaded interior defensive line. Defensive tackle Zacch Pickens has future NFL starter written all over him, and Alex “Boogie” Huntley might not be that far behind if he lives up to his potential. M.J. Webb, Tonka Hemingway, T.J. Sanders and Nick Barrett all have the ability to play at incredibly high levels as well.

The biggest thing, I think, that will help defensive coordinator Clayton White’s group against the run is an improved linebacker corps. The Gamecocks were razor thin at the position last fall, and Sherrod Greene’s season-ending injury in Week 3 at Georgia really tested the depth of this group. Damani Staley performed admirably in one of the more underrated efforts we’ve seen from a South Carolina defender in recent years, but he’s graduated.

Greene is back in the fold — though Beamer noted he’s dealing with a short-term injury following South Carolina’s first scrimmage on Saturday. Also back is sixth-year senior Brad Johnson, who transitioned from defensive end to linebacker in White’s 4-2-5 scheme last season.

The kicker here is former four-star recruit Mo Kaba and one-time Delaware transfer Debo Williams feel ready, or close to it, to taking on major roles within this group. Add in freshmen Stone Blanton and Donovan Westmoreland, and there’s reason to think the Gamecocks are going to be more talented at linebacker than they have been in a couple years.

If South Carolina’s linebackers pick up their play moving downhill, coupled with a strong interior defensive line and a secondary that should be a strength of this defense, the Gamecocks figure to be better against the run.

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Send us your Gamecock questions

Got questions you want answered about the team? Email Ben Portnoy at bportnoy@thestate.com and your question could appear in an upcoming mailbag Q&A.

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