Gamecocks up against Alabama for top high school running back

South Carolina missed out on a pair of major prospects who had been projected to the Gamecocks for most of the recruiting campaign by the national recruiting websites.
First it was wide receiver Jonathan Paylor of Burlington, N.C., committing to N.C. State over the Gamecocks. Then, cornerback Jalewis Solomon of Ellaville, Ga., chose Auburn over the Gamecocks.
USC’s 2024 recruiting class remains at 16 and the next commitment date for one of their targets is Aug. 23 for running back Daniel Hill.
Hill visited Alabama the last weekend in June for his final recruiting trip before announcing his college decision later this month. The Crimson Tide have yet to add a running back to their 2024 recruiting class and has made Hill one of its top targets. But Alabama apparently didn’t push the issue with him on this visit.
“We really didn’t do anything, honestly. We ate and just hung out, that’s about it,” Hill said. “I wasn’t even with the coaches for real. I was with some of the players, some of the commits and recruits who were there. We just simply didn’t do much. It was a little cookout. I talked to the coaches, but we were just having regular conversations.”
All of that sounds like good news for USC head coach Shane Beamer and running backs coach Montario Hardesty. The Gamecocks have been out front for Hill, and the visit to Alabama didn’t move the needle off of USC.
“South Carolina is still in the lead, but Alabama is a close second,” Hill said. “And I wouldn’t put Tennessee out of it just yet. I’m going to take my time. I might not have a decision until the 23rd.”
Asked what the Gamecocks need to do to protect their lead, Hill said they shouldn’t take the air out of the ball with him.
“They just need to keep doing what they’re doing honestly,” he said. “Interacting, communicating and showing me how much they want me.”
And the Gamecocks have been doing that. Hill talked to Beamer over the weekend, and he talked with Hardesty Monday night, and he got a clear message from his potential position coach.
“I can come to South Carolina and do great things,” Hill said. “He was telling me I’m the missing piece to the major recruiting class that they have now.”
On the trail
• USC is in the final five with 2024 DE Booker Pickett of Tampa. The others are Georgia, Ohio State, Miami and Florida State.
• Clemson offered 2024 LB Bradley Shaw (6-1, 215) of Hoover, Ala. He was in for the cookout at the end of July before going to Auburn the next day. He also visited Mississippi State, and took official visits to Arkansas and Notre Dame. Shaw also has offers from Texas A&M, Stanford, Alabama, Florida, Colorado and Maryland ... Clemson target LB Wyatt Simmons of Searcy, Ark., was offered by Southern Cal.
• Clemson is sitting in a good spot with one of the top offensive linemen in the country for the 2025 recruiting cycle. Rabun Gap (Ga.) Nacoochee School’s Justin Hasenhuetl (6-5, 300) was on hand for head coach Dabo Swinney’s high school camp in June and earned an offer from offensive line coach Thomas Austin.
A native of Germany, Hasenhuetl started playing football at the age of 10. He currently holds 19 offers, including Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Ole Miss, and Southern Cal, among others.
• USC target 2025 SAF Jontae Gilbert of Atlanta decommitted from Ohio State. He visited USC and Georgia Tech before the dead period. Following the USC visit, Gilbert said the Gamecocks were running second behind the Buckeyes and stood a good chance to spin him their way.
• Clemson offered 2025 OT Solomon Thomas of Jacksonville ... Clemson and USC 2025 target TE Logan Brooking was offered by Texas A&M ... 2025 QB Kelden Ryan of Fort Worth, Texas, who drew interest from USC, committed to Virginia Tech.
• Riverside DT Marcus Downs committed to Georgia Tech ... LB Timir Hickman-Collins (6-1, 218) of Indian Land committed to Florida State. He visited Florida State the last weekend in July as well as in April. He also had offers from Georgia Tech, Charlotte and Charleston Southern.
• DE Jalin Edwards (6-3, 230) of Huntsville, Ala., committed to Furman ... One-time Citadel signee DE Ravon Johnson will play this season at San Jose City Junior College in California.