One day after completing his official visit to South Carolina, Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes four-star RB Carsyn Baker has decommitted from Florida, he told Rivals Hayes Fawcett on Monday night.

A one-time Gamecock lean early in the process and long-time Florida commitment, Baker began taking another look at other programs following the firing of head coach Billy Napier.

After taking trips to North Carolina and Kentucky, Baker completed his visit slate with an official to South Carolina this weekend, his last before National Signing Day.

Baker told GamecockCentral that he’ll make a final decision on Wednesday morning.

Monday intel on South Carolina flip targets including Baker | Baker discusses South Carolina official visit

The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder is being recruited to South Carolina by running backs coach Marquel Blackwell.

Baker is the No. 198 overall prospect and No. 16 RB in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 24 recruit in Georgia.

“I sign on Wednesday morning,” Baker said. “It’s going to come down to everything, the next couple of days I’m going to talk to my family and see what’s the best place and best fit for me. I think I’ll know Tuesday when I wake up and then Wednesday morning when I sign those papers, I’ll know exactly where I’m going.”

If Baker chooses the Gamecocks, he would be the lone pledge in Carolina’s 2026 recruiting class after Amari Thomas flipped to Florida State last month.

The 14-man class is currently ranked No. 19 in the country.

National Signing Day is set for this Wednesday.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – November was Men’s Health Month, which highlights not only physical well-being but also mental health — an area many men struggle to talk about or seek help for.

South Carolina Rep. Hamilton Grant of District 79 says therapy didn’t just help him manage stress. It reshaped how he leads, resolves conflict and communicates with those closest to him.

Now, he’s sharing his story to encourage more men to consider counseling as a tool for wellness, not weakness.

Grant says his mental health journey began with challenges in his professional relationship with his father, whom he also works with.

“There was friction we just couldn’t work through on our own,” Grant said. “Therapy helped us see what we couldn’t see — and it really enhanced our relationship.”

He said one of the biggest lessons he learned is understanding the difference between emotions and facts.

“We’re all entitled to our feelings, but that doesn’t make them factual,” he said. “Once you understand that, you can process emotions and have real conversations that lead to healing.”

Dr. Chad Middleton, a licensed therapist and founder of Vision Counseling, has worked with men for more than 20 years. He says many men grow up being taught to suppress emotion, which often leads to unresolved stress.

“As children, boys are told not to cry,” Middleton said. “So, as men, we don’t know how to express feelings. My sessions, I call them ‘throw up sessions,’ because until you get it out, you can’t start healing.”

Grant said therapy helped him recognize how emotional stress can quickly turn into physical consequences.

“When men don’t feel appreciated, we shut down,” he said. “That stress builds up — and it can turn from mental health to physical health.”

Both Grant and Middleton say their mission now is improving access to counseling by making mental health care more affordable and accessible to South Carolinians.

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