South-Carolina

Ranking South Carolina football’s 2025 recruiting class: Who will have instant impact

Published

1 year ago

December 4, 2024

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

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South-Carolina

Clemson’s Defense Takes Care Of South Carolina, Picks Up Palmetto Series Win

Published

5 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

Clemson’s Defense Takes Care Of South Carolina, Picks Up Palmetto Series Win

The Clemson Tigers prevailed on the hardwood against the South Carolina Gamecocks, winning 68-61 at Littlejohn Coliseum on Tuesday night.

Defense ruled the roost for Clemson, which allowed only four successful threes from 26 attempts by South Carolina, a low 15.4%. The Tigers forced 14 turnovers and turned them into 16 points of their own, a credit to how the team can slow down opposing offenses.

South Carolina’s 61 points are the lowest that the Gamecocks have scored all season, a credit to head coach Brad Brownell’s defense.

Redshirt freshman Ace Buckner took advantage of the opportunity he was given, seeing extended time while playing the most minutes he had all season. With two Tigers injured during the game, he took over, finishing with a career-high 19 points and seven rebounds.

The bench led the way for Clemson (9-3), scoring 41 points to South Carolina’s 14 in the win. In addition to Buckner, Carter Welling came off the bench and finished with 16 points and four rebounds. The big man would also have three steals on Tuesday night.

The Tigers’ starting unit struggled to get going in the first five minutes, leading to a full shuffle of the lineup after being down as much as seven. Then, the bench unit carried Clemson out of the hole, gaining the lead by the 12:25 mark in the first half and not giving it back.

There was bad news from Tuesday’s win involving true freshman Zac Foster, who exited the game in the first half with a knee injury. He did not return to the game and was not on the bench in the second half with his team. The four-star prospect, according to 247Sports, will await the timeline that comes next with his injury.

Fellow guard Butta Johnson also missed the second half with a left leg injury, having a physical play close to the basket that also had him slow to get up.

It led to the opportunity for Buckner, who played 17 minutes in the second half and scored 15 of his points in the final frame. He would also finish with two steals in the win.

While the Tigers shot well from the field, they struggled from the free throw line. Clemson made 60% of its free throws, missing 12 in the win.

Clemson will be back in action in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday afternoon, playing Cincinnati at the Bon Secour Wellness Arena in the 2025 Greenville Winter Invitational.

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South Carolina Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for Dec. 15, 2025

Published

1 day ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

South Carolina Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for Dec. 15, 2025

The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 15, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 15 drawing

23-35-59-63-68, Powerball: 02, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Dec. 15 drawing

Midday: 5-9-2, FB: 6

Evening: 1-3-7, FB: 2

Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Dec. 15 drawing

Midday: 0-2-2-8, FB: 6

Evening: 7-5-9-6, FB: 2

Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 15 drawing

Midday: 10

Evening: 15

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from Dec. 15 drawing

04-07-16-25-35

Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:

For prizes up to $500, you can redeem your winnings directly at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer. Simply present your signed winning ticket at the retailer for an immediate payout.

Winnings $501 to $100,000, may be redeemed by mailing your signed winning ticket along with a completed claim form and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center. For security, keep copies of your documents and use registered mail to ensure the safe arrival of your ticket.

SC Education Lottery

P.O. Box 11039

Columbia, SC 29211-1039

For large winnings above $100,000, claims must be made in person at the South Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Columbia. To claim, bring your signed winning ticket, a completed claim form, a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security card for identity verification. Winners of large prizes may also set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for convenient direct deposit of winnings.

Columbia Claims Center

1303 Assembly Street

Columbia, SC 29201

Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.

For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.

When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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South Carolina Football: Gamecocks Tight End Plans to Return for Sixth Season

Published

2 days ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

South Carolina Football: Gamecocks Tight End Plans to Return for Sixth Season

After losing one tight end to the transfer portal and another from eligibility requirements South Carolina was thin coming into the 2026 offseason in that room. Now it appears they will at least get a veteran back as Brady Hunt plans to return to the Gamecocks for his sixth season of college football.

An ankle injury that required Hunt to miss all of 2023, has given him new life in 2026 as he will play his final season with the Garnet and Black next fall. The 6-foot-5 and 248 pound tight end from Muncie, Indiana, transferred to South Carolina in 2024 for his redshirt junior season. Hunt caught 23 passes for 190 yards while adding two rushing touchdowns in 22 games for the Gamecocks in his two seasons.

Over the weekend, Hunt took to Instagram to announce his decision. He posted a photo of himself before a game with the caption “One more go around.” On3 Sports’ first reported the news after getting confirmation that he will get his an extra season of eligibility.

Tight End Depth

Oct 12, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks tight end Brady Hunt (87) during the second half at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images | Butch Dill-Imagn Images

With Hunt’s return to the Gamecocks, he is the leader in the room that is now without Michael Smith (transfer) and Jordan Dingle (eligibility). Mike Tyler, Maurice Brown II, Lukas Vozeh, and Reno Roehm make up the rest of the tight end room behind Hunt so far for next season. Hunt is the only one in the group that has seen significant snaps in a Gamecocks uniform.

This is one area the Gamecocks’ coaching staff will have to hit hard in the transfer portal once it opens on Jan. 2. The tight end spot has been a nice safety valve for quarterback LaNorris Sellers in his time as a starter, so getting a proven veteran to join the team will be near the top of the list during this transfer cycle.

Outside of tight end, Shane Beamer and company will look to fill holes at the wide receiver, running back, offensive line, defensive line, and secondary spots this offseason.

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