Over 30 instate football players sign with FBS schools on National Signing Day

           Sumter  - With the advent of the transfer portal and the early signing period in college football in recent years, a lot of the pizzazz has been taken out of National Signing Day. However, it is still the foundation for a roster to be built upon and Wednesday was the day for high school seniors to take the next step on their football journeys.

            At least 31 South Carolinians signed with Football Bowl Subdivision schools with several others verbally committed or pondering offers from those institutions.

            Eleven of those players signed with the University of South Carolina. They were part of the Gamecocks' 25-player class. Ten of them has been longtime commitments, but USC added Hammond  tight end Michael Tyler on Wednesday. Tyler had been committed to Louisiana State but flipped to Carolina.

           Four of the new Palmetto State  South Carolina players are 4-star recruits. They are wide receivers Malik Clark of Rock Hill and Jordan Gidron of Ridge View, offensive lineman Shed Sarratt  of Gaffney  and edge rusher Jaquavious Dodd of Eastside.

           Tyler and the other six signees are 3-star recruits. The others are athlete Jaquel Holman of Blackville-Hilda, edge rusher Anthony Addison  of Sumter, safety Damarcus Leach of Abbeville, Westside  quarterback Cutter Woods, linebacker Josh Smith  of Dutch Fork and wide receiver Jayden Sellers of South Florence, the younger brother of Gamecock starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers.

           Three of Clemson's 15-player class are Sandlappers. They include 5-star defensive lineman Amare Adams of Lake City, 4-star athlete Marquise Henderson of Belton-Honea Path and 3-star safety Jakarrion Kenan of Marlboro County.

            Coastal Carolina, the state's other FBS school, had no instate signees in its 16-man class.

           Ten other FBS schools signed South Carolinians, including East Carolina, which signed three. Boston College and Virginia Tech both signed two, with the Hokies signing Irmo quarterback AJ Brand.

            Brand's wide receiver teammate Donovan Murph recently reclassified to the Class of 2025 and is part of a heated battle between USC and Clemson with Mississippi and Colorado in the mix as well. The 4-star receiver will make his decision on January 2 during the Under Armour All-American Game.

           Two instate players are committed to military academies. Offensive lineman Jordan Sullivan  of J.L. Mann is committed to Army, while South Pointe tight end Jordan Collins is committed to Navy.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Anthony Addison, DE, Sumter

Malik Clark, WR, Rock Hill

Jacquavious Dodd, DE, Eastside

Jordon Gidron, WR, Ridge View

Jaquel Holman, LB, Blackville-Hilda

Demarcus Leach, S, Abbeville

Jayden Sellers, WR, South Florece

Josh Smith, DB, Dutch Fork

Shed Sarratt, OL, Gaffney

Mike Tyler, TE, Hammond       

Cutter Woods, QB, Westside

CLEMSON

Amare Adams, DL, South Florence

Marquise Henderson, RB, Belton-Honea Path

Jakarrion Kenan, S, Marlboro County

BOSTON COLLEGE

Sterling Sanders, DL, Blythewood

Omarion Davis, S, Indian Land

EAST CAROLINA

Stephen Collier, WR/S, River Bluff

Josiah Dwyer, DL, Marlboro County

Kendall Walton, OL, Lamar

GEORGIA STATE

Ladainnian Martin, RB, J.L. Mann

GEORGIA TECH

Elgin Sessions, DB, Dutch Fork

Kevin Peay, OL, Lancaster

JAMES MADISON

Jamarcus Smith, WR, Gaffney

KENTUCKY

Mikkel Skinner, TE, Riverside

MARSHALL

Connor Gooding, TE, Gilbert

Jack Laird, OL, Cardinal Newman

NAVY

Jordan Collins, TE, South Pointe

NORTH CAROLINA STATE

Cam Strong, CB, T.L. Hanna – N.C. State

Will Wilson, QB, Richland Northeast

RICE

Keenan Arcega-Whiteside, TE, Dorman

VIRGINIA TECH

AJ Brand, QB, Irmo

Jo Jo Crim, DB, Camden

APPALACHIAN STATE

Chamarryus Bomar, ATH, Westside

Armoni Weaver, CB, Westside

WAKE FOREST

Freddie Gillens, DB, Cardinal Newman

JOHNSON SMITH UNIVERSITY

Trooper Floyd, QB, Chester

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND

Devin Geronomi, White Knoll