2026 three-star interior offensive lineman Anthony Baxter officially signs his letter of intent to play for South Carolina on Wednesday during Early National Signing Day. Baxter is the second interior lineman to sign with the Gamecocks so far as the team tries to retool its offensive line room.

The 6-foot-3 and 335 pound offensive lineman out of Rock Hill, South Carolina, committed to the Gamecocks back in May 2024. He has stuck with that commitment as one of the first in South Carolina’s 2026 class and now makes it officially with his signature on Wednesday.

Offensive Line Outlook

Baxter joins five-star offensive lineman Darius Gray so far as signees on Wednesday morning. Fellow offensive line recruit Zyon Guiles is also expected to sign as a part of the class. Grabbing as many high level guys to add to that room is imperative as it did not live up to expectations throughout the 2025 season.

Baxter, Gray, and Guiles are the only three offensive lineman in South Carolina’s 2026 recruiting class, barring any unexpected flip targets. Those three players average 6-foot-3.5 and over 303 pounds. More beef coming to a line looking to protect next year’s quarterback, whoever that may be.

Gray is the more versatile lineman in the class as his elite traits can help him at either guard or tackle. However should he play guard going forawrd, he and Baxter could help anchor the interior for years to come. The Gamecocks will all but assuredly add some pieces in the transfer portal, as they have done each of the last two off-season’s, but Baxter and the incoming freshman have an opportunity to compete for playing time right away.

Sitting at the 21st spot in 247Sports’s Team Recruiting Rankings, the Gamecocks have 14 commits in the 2026 class, many of which expect to sign during the Early National Signing Day period. Stay tuned here at South Carolina Gamecocks on SI for all up-to-date information on South Carolina recruiting.

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LANDRUM, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – A critical scholarship program for over 50,000 children across South Carolina was cut on Dec. 1 as the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) temporarily paused applications to their Working Families Child Care Scholarship Program.

The pause is leaving some parents begging leaders to see past the paperwork and understand the human impact.

“I just hope the people who are in control of all this can actually look at who it is affecting. It’s not just money given out, it’s not just a number, it’s real, live human people,” said Kayla Stivers, a parent affected by the pause.

Single mother Stivers said the Working Families Childcare Scholarship has changed her life. She has two children, works full-time time and goes to school.

“This is my livelihood. It’s my friends’ livelihood,” Stivers said. “I want to give the absolute best for my children as I possibly can, and this voucher helps.”

The recent pause in the childcare scholarship will soon leave her and her children without this assistance.

“Right now, I’m at the point where I have to start thinking about what I’m going to cut come February. If it’s going to be the sports that they’re in, it’s going to affect them majorly,” Stivers said.

DSS did not say how long they are pausing new applications, only that it is temporary. The department said the federal funding they have been using for the vouchers ran out last year and the government shutdown delayed additional funding they are still receiving.

Miss Tammy’s Little Learning Center said a majority of children they care for use this state scholarship program. They are anticipating 66% of their families will lose the scholarship in the coming months.

“Families are stressed. It’s going to affect not just families, it’s going to affect the childcare industry, it’s going to affect the working industry. It’s going to be a major ordeal,” said Thomas Compton, region director for Miss Tammy’s Little Learning Center.

The Spartanburg County First Steps Program called Quality Counts explained the pause on this funding is also impacting dozens of childcare centers across the county and could leave a ripple effect impacting children, parents and businesses.

“The only way to help prevent this is to get the people in power to talk about this and be aware of it and to know the facts,” said Cathleen Cullen, assistant director of Spartanburg County First Steps Quality Counts Program.

DSS has requested $20 million in state funds for 2026 through 2027 for this issue, but there is no word yet on where those funds stand.

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