As Of July, 20 The State Of South Carolina Has 30 In-state Football Players Committed To Major College football
Dutch Fork Senior DE, Julian Walker (6-6, 225) committed to Michigan on July 1st.
As Of July, 20 The State Of South Carolina Has 30 In-state Football Players Committed To Major College football
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Moncks Corner—Coming into the annual SCACA Clinic (July, 27) there are 30 football players from the 2026 class in South Carolina who have committed to major college football programs to date, a 10 player increase over this exact time a year ago.
As always, we would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Mark Grainger, and the fine folks at Modern Turf, in Irmo and Rembert, for sponsoring our monthly recruiting feature page.
One thing that might be helping the numbers increase, via more players being offered, is the fact that major colleges now have a total allotment of 105 scholarships, when in the past it was 85. Last year the state of South Carolina produced 40 major college football signees from within the state, with 8 to 10 players firming up offers into December and early January.
The HSSR attended the announcement of Timberland offensive lineman Desmond Green (6-5,348), rated at number one by the HSSR based on 21 confirmed major college offers, on June, 26 in the gym at his high school.
At his announcement ceremony, Green told the HSSR, in the end, he chose Florida from a final- five list that also included South Carolina, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma, and Georgia.
Green, a straight A student, shared just why he chose Florida. “I just fell in love with everything down there in Gainesville,” said Green. “Their tradition, culture and the environment along with the people at Florida impressed me very much. I just fell in love with everything I experienced on my visits to Florida.
“I wanted to make a decision now, so I can focus on helping my high school team have a successful season my senior year,” said Green. “I also want to focus on my academics as well.”
Green said he is still developing as a player and realizes he still has work to do to reach his ultimate goal of one day playing in the NFL. Green will major in Business once he gets to college.
Green said he has two main goals once he gets to Florida after high school. “I want to get a good education and I hope to play early and contribute to the success of the team,” he said. “Then with those two goals accomplished I hope to make it to the NFL.”
Green’s high school coach, Greg Wright, shared some comments on why he thinks Green is a special football player. “He is a phenomenal kid, and he embodies everything you want in a student athlete,” said Coach Wright. “He is all about leadership, hard-work and determination. He is super smart in the class room and on the field.
“He is a film junkie and that is what any coach wants in a player,” said Coach Wright. “From my time playing at a high level I can tell you that he embodies everything it takes to be successful at the highest level of football.
“Desmond is always finding ways to get better,” said Coach Wright. “He is a polished young man with a great work ethic. I am thankful we have him for one more season.”
Michigan came into SEC/ACC country on July 1 and gained a commitment from highly regarded Dutch Fork DE Julian Walker (6-6,250) rated number 14 at the time of his commitment. Walker chose the Big Blue over South Carolina and North Carolina.
Walker announced on his social media account: “I am beyond honored for the opportunity to be a Michigan man!”
To date there has been a flurry of recruiting activity at Gaffney High School. Associate head coach Kevin Phillips gave the HSSR an update on numerous Indians with commitments and offers as we were going to press with this issue.
In recent weeks Gaffney 2026 linebacker Zyon Ratchford (6-4,200) and 2026 DL Kelton Smith (6-5,290) have committed to East Carolina. Gaffney 2026 running back Jaiden McDowell (5-10,165) has committed to Mercer. McDowel is a top 20 rated senior in South Carolina by the HSSR while Ratchford and Smith are both Top 50 players.
Gaffney already has 2026 quarterback Jayvon Gilmore (65-5,200) committed to Arkansas and 2026 Ol Scotland Dover (6-5,305) is a commitment to Appalachian State. The HSSR rates Gilmore as the number four over-all prospect in SC while Dover is at the 15th spot coming into August drills.
In a hot scoop news matter. Former Goose Creek QB Corey Taylor (6-0,164) moved to the Gaffney earlier this year. Taylor is rated among the top 10 quarterbacks in the nation in the 2029 class by some services.
In the 2027 class at Gaffney four rising juniors have firm major college offers. They are LB Kendarius (P-nut) Bailey (6-0,215), OL CJ Brooks (6-4,320), DB/RB Kareen Shaw (5-10,181), and DB/WR Ayden Montgomery (5-10,162). In the Gaffney 2028 class DB Zion Dawkins (5-11,182) already has seven major college offers.
There has been one unusual commitment the HSSR has verified through Andrews High head coach Scott Durham. On his football team information , returned to the HSSR recently, Coach Durham listed 2026 DE (edge rusher) Chris Stewart (6-4,228) as a firm commitment to Western Michigan. Stewart had committed to Elon back in April. .
Stewart went on a visit to Western Michigan in early June. His contact at WM was through a former coach from PC now on the staff at WM. Stewart had a great camp and he was officially offered but he was also asked not to go public with his commitment. His name also does not appear on the Western Michigan commitment list on their web site either. It could be that WM feels like they have found a diamond in the rough and they do not want the competition to find out about Stewart just yet.
As a junior Stewart had 93 tackles, 31.5 TFL, 13.5 sacks, four PBU and two FF. He earned all-state honors after producing such quality numbers.
“Chris is one of the best players I’ve coached,” said Coach Durham. “He is relentless with his effort on a football field and his motor never stops. He is long and quick and is a natural edge guy who just now growing into his body.” (Could Western Michigan be hiding the next JJ Watt?) Not anymore!
Coach Durham, who had a talk with a coach from WM, agreed that it was highly unusual any college would ask a player not to go public with their commitment after accepting an offer.
South Carolina, (as of July, 26) has 12 commitments in the 2026 football recruiting class, and six of them are in-state prospects.
The Gamecocks have commitments from number three rated DB J’zavien Currence (6-3,205) from South Pointe, number five rated OL Zyon Guiles (6-4,295) of Carvers Bay, number 10 rated OL Anthony Baxter (6-3,330) of South Pointe, number 11 rated WR Sequel Patterson (6-0,165) of Indian Land, number 12 rated TE Jamel Howze (6-3,215) of Newberry, and in late July the Gamecocks got their sixth in-state pledge from Greenwood QB/Ath Tristen Lewis (6-4,200) and he was offered as a DB with an upgraded player rating of 27.
As of July, 26 Clemson had 18 commitments in the 2026 recruiting class. To date, only one in-state player has committed to the Tigers. He is number 8 rated DB Kentavious Anderson (6-2,181) of Dorman. Anderson runs a 10.8 100 and is a highly rated cover athlete.
North Carolina had Dillon WR Zay Robertson (6-0,165,4.4) in camp in late June. In the morning session, an eye witness, told the HSSR that after Bill Belichick watched Robertson run two routes, with two great catches in double coverage he blew his whistle and told one of his coaches standing near him, “Get that kid in our afternoon elite group of receivers.”
Robertson must remind Belichick of former NFL New England great Troy Brown, a Blackville-Hilda graduate, who retired as the leading receiver in Patriots history. After the afternoon session Belichick offered Robertson and the rest is history. Robertson ran a 4.4 forty at several camps this summer. The HSSR has Robertson ranked as the top WR in the 2026 class in SC, and he is expected to exceed 1,500 yards in receptions at Dillon this season.
Throwing passes to Robertson this season will be Next Level Under Armor All-American Dillon freshman quarterback Khayel Sam Fong-Talia (6-1, 190). “Kel” was very impressive in the all-American game played in Orlando, Florida last December. The game comprised the top 80 rising freshman players in 2029 class across the nation.
“Kel” moved with his family to Dillon from Utah just before his 8th grade season on the Dillon varsity. He could have re-classified up to a freshman a year ago, but Kel declined after he had been approved academically. He grew up in Hawaii and folks in Dillon went to jayvee games last year just to check out his NFL arm.
North Carolina was able to flip Virginia Tech WR commitment Carnell Warren (6-4,196) of Bluffton in recent weeks giving the Tar Heels two of the top receivers in the 2026 class in South Carolina.
Other 2026 commitments include Top 30 Orangeburg Prep TE Tildren Riley (6-5,211) headed to Vanderbilt. Other top 25 HSSR rated players not mentioned earlier, include, North Augusta OL Malcolm Gaston (6-5,330) committed to Georgia. Also, Northwestern big play DB Tamarion Watkins (6-4,200) chose Texas A&M recently.
Other top 25 rising seniors who have committed include Boiling Springs DB Jeremiah Favorite headed to Michigan State, Christ Church WR Jude Hall is headed to Memphis, Athlete Somad Eaddy (6-0,165) of Riverside is pledged to Wake Forest, Fairfield Central WR/DB Jayden Boyd (5-9,166) is committed to Duke, and OL Tre Aiken (6-4,265) of Clinton recently committed to NC State at the number 25 HSSR player ranking.
NC State has also picked up number 34 rated DB Jordyn Best (5-11,180) of Ridge View giving them two in-state players thus far.
Appalachian State has four 2026 in-state players committed as of July, 26 with Dover being the highest rated player at 15. The other three are between 30 and 50 on the Top 100 list with great next level potential. They are DE Sawyer Arnold (6-4,220) from Oceanside Collegiate, DL Chris Doyle (6-1,290) of Bluffton and OL Caden Muskus (6-5,270) of Chapin.
East Carolina has landed commitments from three in-state players thus far. The aforementioned Smith of Gaffney is the highest rated player at 24. Spartanburg QB Trey Burke (6-3,205) is at 30 and Ratchford of Gaffney is number 38.
Liberty has secured commitments from number 28 QB Jachin Davis (6-1,185) from Stratford and number 29 Crescent WR Amiri Acker (6-2,186).
Rounding out all major college commitments as of this issue: Number 32 DL Chris Doyle (6-1,290) is committed to UNC Charlotte, number 36 WR Jaemin Pinckney (6-5,217) of Woodland is committed to South Florida, while Spartanburg kicker Will Love (6-2,205) is committed to Virgina Tech in the 43rd slot.
