South-Carolina
Ranking South Carolina football’s 2025 recruiting class: Who will have instant impact
COLUMBIA — There were 25 players who signed with South Carolina football on national signing day Wednesday, with likely more on the way via the transfer portal.
Coach Shane Beamer has talent carrying over into the 2025 season on the Gamecocks roster but there are gaps to fill and players to replace.
Here’s who could have an instant impact in the 2025 season after national signing day:
Tight end Mike Tyler
Tyler flipped his commitment from LSU to South Carolina and is from Columbia, playing at the Hammond School.
The Gamecocks are losing Josh Simon, who has a team-high 450 receiving yards and six touchdowns this season. On the depth chart now, there’s true freshman Michael Smith, who has nine catches for 96 yards and a touchdown.
Brady Hunt and Connor Cox are two other tight ends who played. If Smith slips into Simon’s go-to spot, there might be a new No. 2 and No. 3, where Tyler could play.
“We’ve had some pretty good success with Columbia, guys that have come here and thrived and think he’ll do the same,” Beamer said of Tyler.
Kicker Max Kelley
Alex Herrera is in his final season as is his backup William Joyce. It’s expected that freshman Mason Love replaces long-time punter Kai Kroeger, but Kelley is the No. 1 kicker in the class of 2025 and could be starting next season.
South Carolina loses key defenders after 2024 season
The Gamecocks are losing starters Alex Huntley and Tonka Hemingway on the defensive line, in addition to linebackers Debo Williams and Demetrius Knight, and edge defender Kyle Kennard. All five players have been instrumental to South Carolina’s success in 2024. Plus, defensive back Nick Emmanwori may declare for the NFL draft.
No. 1 junior college recruit Zavion Hardy may see early action on the defensive line. Either four-star edge Jaquavious Dodd or Donovan Darden could play opposite Dylan Stewart to replace Kennard.
Running back Jaquel Holman
Rocket Sanders has been a huge portal success for South Carolina but he’s gone after this year. Behind him has been Oscar Adaway, who does return. Jawarn Howell announced he plans to enter the portal.
Holman, a four-star running back ranked No. 10 in South Carolina, could play next season.
Gamecocks sign multiple four-star wide receivers, signing day highlights
Beamer called receivers coach Mike Furrey’s part of the recruiting class a “grand slam” after five signed, including starting QB LaNorris Sellers’ younger brother Jayden.
Malik Clark, Lex Cyrus, Brian Rowe Jr, and Jordon Gidron are all four-star signees with potential to play as true freshmen like Mazeo Bennett did this season. With many WRs returning, it’s not likely they will all instantly play but they were some of the best signees for South Carolina Wednesday.
South Carolina football’s signing day surprises
In addition to Tyler and Hardy, offensive lineman Damola Ajidahun flipped from Georgia Tech and the Gamecocks signed Christian Ingram, a DL from Georgia who picked them over Kentucky and Southern Cal.
South Carolina football recruiting rankings after national signing day
The Gamecocks still sit in the bottom half of rankings in the SEC but improved four spots in the national rankings.
South Carolina’s 2025 recruiting class is No. 20 nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, and No. 12 in the SEC. The Gamecocks are above Mississippi State, Kentucky, Arkansas and Vanderbilt but sit below a majority of conference opponents.
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
Columbia, Mo. — The South Carolina softball team (25-21, 4-13) dropped the second game of its series at Missouri (24-23, 7-10) 5-0 Saturday night (Apr. 18).
Kai Byars led the Gamecocks with a pair of doubles on the night. It was her second multi-hit game of the season and her first game with multiple extra base hits.
The Tigers scored a run in the third inning without the aid of a hit. They would extend the lead and add four more in the fourth.
Carolina’s best opportunity for a run came in third. Byars doubled to lead off the inning and Shae Anderson followed with a bunt single. A double play on a potential sacrifice fly ended the rally.
Emma Friedel (8-4) took the loss, allowing one run on no hits in 3 1-3 innings. She struck out six and walked three.
The rubber game of the series will be tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET.
Audi Crooks on being in the transfer portal
USAT’s Sam Cardona-Norberg catches up with college basketball star Audi Crooks, who is still looking for her next team.
Sports Seriously
Jordan Lee entered the transfer portal after a breakout season at Texas and the junior guard isn’t going too far. She’s staying in the Southeastern Conference.
Lee announced on Instagram Friday that she’s transferring to South Carolina to play for Dawn Staley after spending the first two years of her collegiate career at Texas under Vic Schaefer. Lee captioned her Instagram post, which featured a video montage of her visit to Columbia, South Carolina, “Feeling cocky.”
Lee was one of four players from Texas to enter the transfer portal after the Longhorns’ second consecutive trip to the Final Four ended in a devastating loss to UCLA. She was named to the All-Region team in the Fort Worth 3 bracket in this year’s NCAA Tournament following her Sweet 16 and Elite Eight performance, where she recorded 22 points, six assists, three rebounds and four steals while also providing strong defense.
After being limited to five starts her freshman year, Lee slid into the starting lineup last season and started a career-high 38 games. She also averaged career highs in points (13.2), assists (2.5), rebounds (2.5), steals (1.5), field-goal percentage (42%) and free-throw percentage (75%), while shooting 34% from 3-point range.
Texas’ Aaliyah Crump, Justice Carlton and Aaliyah Moore also entered the transfer portal. On Friday, Crump announced she’s transferring to Duke, citing her connection with head coach Kara Lawson.
“For me, choosing Duke University goes far beyond one sentence. The moment I connected with Kara Lawson and her coaching staff, I knew I was exactly where I belonged,” said Crump, who averaged 7.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game her freshman season at Texas.
Crump continued: “Their dedication and vision for the program is truly special, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be a part of it. The connection Coach Lawson and I have built is one of a kind, and I fully trust in her plan for the success of this program. I can’t wait to be coached by genuine people who support my growth not only as a basketball player, but as a person as well.”
Three-time All-American Madison Booker and junior starting forward Breya Cunningham are expected to return to Texas.
Contributing: Mitchell Northam
Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.
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Each offseason, the NFL shakes up the landscape with free agency, as some of the top names at each position move around the league to new teams. The New Orleans Saints have fallen victim to this in 2026 so far, with Demario Davis and Alontae Taylor both moving on, and Cameron Jordan not having re-signed as of yet. Cornerback was a position that could already use a talent influx alongside Kool-Aid McKinstry and Quincy Riley; now, it is even more of an issue.
Adding a new defensive back to fill the STAR role for the defense is certainly going to be a focus this spring, and that has been clear from the Saints’ pre-draft meetings. Recently, they added another name to the growing list; this time, it was South Carolina prospect Jalon Kilgore.
There is a lot to like about Kilgore, especially in that nickel or STAR role long term. He is enormously athletic and absolutely rapid both in straight-line testing and on the field. He got a decent chunk of his collegiate snaps at slot corner, 1,382 to be exact, but also had 541 in the box, 238 at free safety, 53 along the defensive line, and 24 as an outside corner.
His coverage metrics in 2025 were very solid, as on 65 targets, he allowed 34 receptions (52.3%) for 390 yards and 2 touchdowns. He picked up 2 interceptions, 10 pass deflections, 54 total tackles, and 2 fumble recoveries in 694 total snaps this season. Throughout the combine, he ended up performing well in pretty much every drill, which bodes well for his ability to translate to the NFL. If the Saints are looking to add someone with slot experience already, Kilgore may be one of the best options available.
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