Gamecocks Surge in Recruiting Rankings After Landing Four-Star Offensive Lineman Kamari Blair
South Carolina football has significantly boosted its recruiting class, jumping nine spots to No. 22 nationally following the commitment of four-star offensive lineman Kamari Blair on Wednesday. Blair, a highly sought-after prospect from Tennessee, chose the Gamecocks over in-state Tennessee and Ole Miss, signaling a major win for Shane Beamer’s program.
The recent momentum is fueled by a flurry of recruiting activity and an update to the Rivals industry ranking – a weighted composite from Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN. Prior to Blair’s announcement, South Carolina sat at No. 31 in the country. With eleven players now pledged to the class of 2026, the program is trending upward.
Notably, the Gamecocks are currently the only team in the top 50 nationally with fewer than 13 commitments. This strategic approach has resulted in a higher average player rating, currently ranked 11th in the nation. “The focus isn’t just on quantity, but on securing high-caliber players,” a recruiting analyst noted.
South Carolina’s No. 22 overall ranking places them ninth in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). While Tennessee and Ole Miss currently rank higher in the SEC, the Gamecocks boast a superior average player rating compared to both programs. The program has demonstrated consistent recruiting success, landing the No. 18 class in the country last year – marking their third consecutive top 20 finish – and ranking No. 11 in the SEC for the 2025 class.
Here’s a look at the committed players driving South Carolina’s recruiting success, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking:
Key Commits in the 2026 Class
- DT Aiden Harris: No. 74 overall, No. 5 nationally among defensive linemen, No. 5 in North Carolina. Harris, a consensus four-star prospect, addresses a critical position of need for the Gamecocks at defensive tackle.
- S J’Zavien Currence: No. 90 overall, No. 8 nationally among safeties, No. 2 in South Carolina. Currence is considered the highest-rated player in the class by two other major recruiting services and is a consensus four-star.
- OL GUILES A: No. 171 overall, No. 12 nationally among interior offensive linemen, No. 4 in South Carolina. Rivals’ rankings place Guiles on the cusp of five-star status, recognizing him as the No. 1 overall interior offensive lineman in the country.
- WR Sequel Patterson: No. 229 overall, No. 40 nationally among wide receivers, No. 5 in South Carolina. Patterson, a recent reclassification from the 2027 class, was a top 100 prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking prior to his decision to play receiver for the Gamecocks.
- OL Kamari Blair: No. 274 overall, No. 22 among offensive tackles, No. 7 in Tennessee. Blair’s commitment extends South Carolina’s streak of securing multiple blue-chip offensive linemen to four consecutive classes.
- TE Jamel Howse: No. 280 overall, No. 13 nationally among tight ends, No. 7 in South Carolina. Howse is a four-star prospect according to two of the three major recruiting rankings.
- DT Noah Clark: No. 312 overall, No. 34 nationally among defensive linemen, No. 16 in North Carolina. Clark is projected to play nose tackle, filling another key need on the USC roster.
- EDGE/LB Andrew Harris: No. 344 overall, No. 36 nationally among EDGE players, No. 18 in North Carolina. South Carolina intends to utilize Harris at linebacker.
- DB KJ Johnson: No. 463 overall, No. 43 nationally among cornerbacks, No. 16 in Alabama. Johnson is a versatile defensive back with the potential to play corner, safety, or nickel.
- LB Keenan Britt: No. 469 overall, No. 38 nationally among linebackers, No. 19 in Alabama. Britt transitioned from an EDGE prospect to a linebacker for the Gamecocks.
- OL Anthony Baxter: No. 1200 overall, No. 108 nationally among interior offensive linemen, No. 14 in South Carolina. Baxter, a teammate of Currence, is the longest-tenured pledge in the class.
The Gamecocks’ recruiting success demonstrates a clear strategy focused on quality over quantity, positioning the program for continued growth and competitiveness within the SEC.
