Three-peat: South Carolina lands 2024 four-star cornerback, third commitment of day

The DMV-to-Columbia pipeline is alive and well.

South Carolina nabbed its third commitment of the day on Wednesday when 2024 four-star cornerback Braydon Lee announced his commitment to the Gamecocks. He chose USC over a group of finalists that included Georgia, Alabama, Maryland, Tennessee, UNC, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and Penn State.

“South Carolina, we on,” Lee said during his announcement on Instagram.

Ranked the No. 229 player and No. 18 cornerback this cycle by the 247Sports Composite, Lee is the sixth prospect with roots in D.C., Maryland or Virginia to commit to the Gamecocks between the 2023 and 2024 classes.

“Since day one, after my sophomore season and as soon as I got my offer, it’s just been nothing but love,” Lee said. “I’m feeling a little cocky for a minute now, but you know, I wanted to take my time with it, be patient, just let the course run. After this spring game, I just feel like it’s no more point waiting. I know truly in my heart, I want to be a Gamecock ... and I want to win games and play in the SEC. That’s where I want to be.”

The Maryland product played his high school ball at CH Flowers with 2023 four-star South Carolina Desmond Umeozulu and 2024 three-star commit Mike Williams, who pledged to USC two hours prior to Lee’s announcement Wednesday. Walk-on freshman tight end Maurice Brown II also played at Flowers.

Williams announced his commitment to South Carolina via Twitter on Wednesday. Williams chose USC over reported offers from Miami, Southern Cal, Michigan State, Tennessee, West Virginia and Florida. He’s rated the No. 1,141 player and No. 91 offensive tackle in the 2024 class, per the 247Sports Composite.

Williams looks the part of a future high-major offensive tackle at 6-foot-7, 315 pounds. He says that USC coaches like the physical tools he will bring to the line of scrimmage.

“They treat you like family,” Williams said after his most recent visit. “They are saying I’ve got long arms, big frame, a big guy and I’ve got the physicality.”

South Carolina is quickly compiling one of the more impressive offensive line classes in recent memory. Williams is the fourth 2024 lineman to commit to the Gamecocks along with top 75 tackles Kam Pringle and Josiah Thompson and three-star Greenville tackle Blake Franks.

South Carolina has now received commitments from eight players with four-star ratings in its 2024 class — including seven prospects ranked inside the top 230 nationally in the 2024 class.

The Gamecocks landed commitments Wednesday from Lee, Williams and four-star in-state safety Kelvin Hunter. All three were in Columbia for the annual Garnet and Black spring game over the weekend.

Kelvin Hunter picks USC

Four-star West Florence safety Kelvin Hunter announced his commitment to South Carolina via Twitter on Wednesday afternoon. He chose USC over Virginia Tech, Michigan, Auburn and Appalachian State.

Hunter, rated the No. 202 player in the 2024 class, per the 247Sports Composite, played multiple positions on the West Florence defense, helping his squad to an 11-2 record and a third round playoff appearance in 2022. He finished his junior season with 103 tackles, 19 tackles for a loss, one interception and six blocked punts.

“Obviously the thing that has gotten Kelvin to be this type of recruit is his speed.,” West Florence coach Jody Jenerette said. “He has legit SEC top-end speed. He’s physical enough to be a box player and will be talented enough to backpedal when needed.

“He probably projects as nickel type guy on Saturdays. He’s still very raw with tons of room to develop. The thing that will get him on the field early is his uncanny ability to block punts.”

— Phil Kornblut contributed to this story

South Carolina football 2024 commits

• July 2, 2022: QB Dante Reno — Windsor, Conn.
  
  

• Jan. 22: OT Kam Pringle — Dorchester, SC
  
  

• Jan. 24: TE Michael Smith — Savannah, GA
  
  

• Jan. 27: LB Wendell Gregory — Marietta, GA
  
  

• Feb. 3: WR Mazeo Bennett — Greenville, SC
  
  

• March 31: OL Blake Franks — Greenville, SC
  
  

• April 14: OL Josiah Thompson — Dillon, SC
  
  

• April 19: DB Kelvin Hunter — Florence, SC
  
  

• April 19: OL Mike Williams — Baltimore, MD

• April 19: CB Braydon Lee — Upper Marlboro, Maryland