INTEL: Palmetto Bowl Visitors & A Recruiting Update

South Carolina's Football program is hosting a bevy of talent for the Palmetto Bowl, including one visitor who's trending toward the Gamecocks once more.

The Gamecocks are playing their most hated rival, the Clemson Tigers, later tonight. It's a big recruiting weekend because of the game, so here's a recruiting update for fans to stay informed. The Gamecocks will have many visitors at the game, including:

*Denotes commitment*

2024

Five-Star OL Josiah Thompson*

Four-Star QB Dante Reno*

Four-Star RB Daniel Hill

Four-Star DT Jerome Simmons

Four-Star TE Michael Smith*

Four-Star RB Braylen Russell (Arkansas Commit)

Four-Star WR Mazeo Bennett*

Four-Star LB Wendell Gregory*

Four-Star OL Kam Pringle*

Four-Star DB Kelvin Hunter*

Four-Star ATH Jalewis Solomon*

Four-Star DB Braydon Lee*

Three-Star DB Ben Black (Rutgers Commit)

Three-Star DB Quaysheed Scott (Kentucky Commit)

Three-Star EDGE Jaylen Brown (Missouri Commit)

Three-Star OL Blake Franks*

Three-Star DB David Bucey*

2025

Five-Star DL Elijah Griffin

Five-Star LB Zayden Walker

Four-Star DL Amare Adams

Four-Star EDGE Taeshawn Alston

Four-Star DB Jontae Gilbert

Four-Star TE Marshall Pritchett

Four-Star WR Jordan Young

Four-Star EDGE Jared Smith

Three-Star WR Jayden Sellers*

Three-Star OL Gerrick Gordon Jr

2025 Basketball         

Four-Star PF Hayden Assemian

2026

Four-Star OL Darius Gray

Four-Star OT Leo Delany

Four-Star OL Ekene Ogboko

Four-Star RB Jaylen McGill

Four-Star WR Dyzier Carter

Four-Star RB Savion Hiter

Four-Star CB Samari Matthews

I spoke with a source very close to Daniel Hill this weekend that said despite the crystal ball predictions to Alabama from 247Sports, Hill is trending back towards South Carolina, and the feeling is that the Gamecocks would be the pick for him if he made that decision anytime soon. With that being said, he has a lot of people in his ear about Alabama and will be making his decision on January 6th at the All-American Bowl. Daniel has been the staff's top priority at running back for a year now.

Some fans have recently inquired about 2024 running back and recent Michigan State decommit Anthony Carrie after he visited Columbia two weeks ago. To keep things short and sweet, I don't foresee this recruitment progressing beyond that point, considering how much of a priority Hill is for this staff.

Switching to basketball, new 2025 commit Eli Ellis is using his basketball connections to help recruit. His top priority is AJ Dybantsa, the No.1 player in his class from Brockton, Massachusetts. In short, exciting times for Gamecocks recruiting and basketball as Eli Ellis uses his friendship to try to get the best of the best in the 2025 class. 

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