SEC rival program working to flip one of the Tennessee Volunteers’ top commitments

South Carolina is looking to flip one of the top football prospects in its own state away from an SEC rival.

The Gamecocks extended an offer Wednesday night to Aiken (S.C.) Strom Thurmond four-star wide receiver Braylon Staley, who has been committed to Tennessee since the end of June.

The 6-foot, 180-pounder didn’t previously hold an offer from Shane Beamer and Co., and he ultimately chose the Vols after taking official visits to Clemson, North Carolina and Tennessee.

“Tennessee just caught my attention, the culture there is amazing,” Staley told On3’s Jeremy Johnson when he committed. “Their coaches are amazing. It was really the players. It was the relationships. I built relationships with the players just like I did with the coaches.”

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel and wide receiver coach Kelsey Pope were major factors for Staley. He also had a chance to hear from freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava and senior quarterback Joe Milton among others.

Tennessee’s pitch to Braylon Staley as a major playmaker paid off

Staley has a reputation as a deep threat. Tennessee plans on utilizing that aspect of Staley’s game as well as his track speed in as many ways as possible.

The creative outlook on Staley’s skillset was a major selling point in favor of the Volunteers.

“I think it’s going to be really fun, that offense is fast-paced,” Staley said. “They said they’re going to use me, outside, inside and maybe even in the backfield just to swing me out and give me an open field to do my job…It was good. Some schools wanted to use me as a Tank Dell-like wide receiver. Shannon Dawson was his offensive coordinator at Houston.”

South Carolina now looking for a major flip

Staley will now have the new offer to consider as the final months tick down toward the Early Signing Period in December.

He is the No. 98 overall prospect in the 2024 class, according to the On300 rankings, and also checks in as the nation’s No. 18 wideout.

The Gamecocks currently have two wideouts committed: three-star Zy’marion Lang and four-star Mazeo Bennett, but would like to add another pass-catcher. The Gamecocks signed a trio of receivers in the 2023 class but could have early playing time available with starters Xavier Legette, Ahmarean Brown and backup Eddie Lewis all expected to move on this offseason.