South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer and his team will see their hat on a large number of tables over the next several weeks as there will be at least eight Gamecock targets announcing their college decisions before USC takes the field for their first game against the Old Dominion Monarchs on August 31st.

One of the big-time prospects nearing a commitment is 4-star offensive lineman Cortez Smith. Smith, a Georgia native who plays primarily on the interior of the offensive line at Parkview High School, is rated as a 4-star by all four major recruiting services. The 2025 prospect is ranked as high as #80 overall in the nation and is a highly-coveted recruit.

Smith recently revealed a commitment date of July 20th, meaning he will make his college choice in a week. The local Georgia Bulldogs are viewed as the favorite in his recruitment, but the South Carolina Gamecocks, Miami Hurricanes, and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets round out his top-4 and are trying their best to lure him to their programs.

As a player, Smith is among the strongest offensive linemen in the ’25 cycle, and he has experience playing every position up front for Parkview. He likely will play on the interior at the college level, but his strength, athleticism, and versatility will help him as a player. His mindset on the field appears to be exactly what an offensive line coach wants in a player.

Smith is aggressive at the point of attack, and he is an excellent lead blocker in space, both in pulling situations and when he climbs to the second level. He is a bit raw as a pass blocker, but he has good feet and hands, and his movements are smooth, meaning he can be coached up to being a good pass protector.

You can watch some of his film here.