Big recruiting weekend on deck for South Carolina football team

South Carolina hosts its final official visits this weekend ahead of the first signing period.

An NCAA dead period for recruiting begins Monday and runs through Jan. 12. The December signing period starts Wednesday and ends Friday, Dec. 23.

USC coach Shane Beamer sent out two more commitment alerts Thursday night, meaning there are three prospects who have committed to the Gamecocks but have not yet gone public.

▪ A possibility for one of the commitments Thursday is Florida transfer tight end Nick Elksnis (6-6, 250). He’s a native of Jacksonville who saw limited playing time in his two seasons with the Gators.

▪ Transferring Newberry running back Mario Anderson Jr. said he will visit USC for bowl practice Friday. He’s been talking with RBs coach Montario Hardesty, and an offer is possible. He’s been offered by Tennessee State and Tarleton State and plans to visit those two officially in January. He will transfer to his new school in January. The 5-foot-9, 210-pound Anderson was named a D2 All-American after rushing for 1,560 yards and 19 touchdowns. The Summerville native has two years of eligibility remaining.

▪ Tight end Reid Mikeska (6-6, 233) of Cypress, Texas said he will take an official visit to USC this weekend. He has been committed to Miami and was once committed to Clemson. He also visited USC in March.

▪ Arkansas transfer tight end Trey Knox (6-5, 245) also is expected to be in Columbia this weekend for an official visit. Knox spent four seasons in Fayetteville and has prior relationships with Gamecocks receivers coach Justin Stepp and offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains. In 45 career games with the Razorbacks, Knox caught 81 passes for 892 yards and nine touchdowns.

▪ Also scheduled for an official visit to USC this weekend is Maryland transfer tight end CJ Dippre (6-5, 250). He visited Alabama last weekend and has picked up offers from Nebraska, Rutgers, Illinois, Syracuse, Ole Miss, N.C. State and West Virginia since entering the transfer portal. This season he had 30 catches for 314 yards and three touchdowns.

▪ Also scheduled for official visits to USC this weekend are Virginia linebacker commitment Kamren Robinson (6-2, 215) of Tappahannock, Virginia; cornerback Tyshawn Russell (6-2, 185) of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and two USC commitments, defensive tackle Xzavier McLeod and tight end Kamron Sandlin. Robinson visited Virginia and Virginia Tech in the summer and Florida State last weekend. Russell visited Virginia Tech last weekend.

▪ Class of 2024 offensive tackle Blake Franks of Greenville told 247Sports he will visit USC this weekend and will then be ready to make his decision, with Clemson and Ole Miss the other two under consideration.

▪ Class of 2024 tight end Michael Smith of Savannah said he will visit Gamecocks on Sunday for their bowl practice. He has USC in his final eight with a Jan. 24 commitment date scheduled.

▪ TE/DE Nick Petrillo (6-3, 225) of Morristown, New Jersey and Fork Union Prep (Virginia) visited USC late in the season and plans to visit for a bowl practice.

▪ USC targets Nyck Harbor and Oluwatosin Babalade were at the Maryland basketball game Wednesday night with the owner of Under Armour.

▪ USC offered 2025 receiver Caleb Cunningham (6-3, 180) of Ackerman, Mississippi and 2026 tight end Heze Kent (6-5, 250) of Brunswick, Georgia.