Welcome home: 4-star recruit Monteque Rhames from Sumter commits to South Carolina

Michael Lananna
247Sports

South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer has tweeted “#WelcomeHome” quite often this summer. On Saturday the Gamecocks reeled in yet another public commitment.

Sumter High defensive end Monteque Rhames, a four-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite rankings, announced his commitment to Beamer’s Gamecocks. Rhames is the 14th public commitment in USC’s 2023 class and the 12th added since June 1.

Rhames is a big win for USC, picking the Gamecocks over offers from a bevy of Power 5 programs, including Alabama, Georgia and Florida State. He’s the first defensive lineman in the class.

The rising senior was a frequent visitor to the football facilities this spring and summer. The Gamecocks were one of his early favorites and their continued strong pursuit led to his conclusion that playing for Shane Beamer and defensive ends coach Sterling Lucas was the move.

“They said I can be one of the best players to come out of USC,” Rhames said in an interview earlier this year. “(Lucas) has been on me since he got here, since his first day. He told me I would fit in good. He said he can’t wait to work with me. He likes the way I play, and he can get me right and ready for the next level.”

Last season at Sumter, Rhames posted 75 tackles, 20 1/2 tackles for loss and seven sacks in a dominant year.

He’s the fourth overall prospect in the state of South Carolina for the 2023 cycle, according to 247Sports Composite.

— Phil Kornblut contributed to this story.

South Carolina 2023 commits

  • RB Dontavius Braswell, Washington County (Ga.)

  • OL Trovon Baugh, Pace Academy (Ga.)

  • OL Isaiah Jatta, Snow College (Utah)

  • WR Kelton Henderson, Lehigh Acres (Fla.)

  • WR CJ Adams, Pebblebrook (Ga.)

  • TE Connor Cox, The Bolles School (Fla.)

  • ATH Kamron Sandlin, Anniston (Ala.)

  • ATH Judge Collier, Legion Collegiate, Rock Hill

  • DL Monteque Rhames, Sumter

  • LB Grayson Howard, Andrew Jackson (Fla.)

  • LB Jaden Robinson, Columbia (Fla.)

  • S Jalon Kilgore, Putnam County (Ga.)

  • S Zahbari Sandy, St John’s, Washington (DC)

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