Five-star OL commits to South Carolina

South Carolina football landed the nation’s top-ranked interior offensive line prospect on Friday evening when Darius Gray announced his pledge to the Gamecocks.

It’s a signature recruiting win for Shane Beamer’s program, as USC beat out a major push from LSU to win this highly contested battle.

Gray’s list of finalists also included Clemson, Ohio State, and Tennessee.

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No other program was stronger for a longer period of time with the Richmond (Virginia) St. Christopher’s product than South Carolina, the school that drew him for a number of visits spanning into the double digits.

“South Carolina is a school that’s been recruiting me the hardest for the longest by far,” Gray told On3’s Steve Wiltfong this week. “They’ve been a school constantly in my recruitment since I can remember. They’ve done a great job and to see them grow over time, over the years, you see them on a trending path. You can tell Shane Beamer is nowhere close to being done or satisfied. They’re just scratching the surface.”

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The 6-foot-3, 285-pounder is tabbed by the Rivals Industry Ranking – an average of all three major recruiting services – as the number 31 prospect overall nationally and as the second-best prospect in the state of Virginia.

Several programs garnered official visits for the five-star during his recruitment: Virginia Tech, Virginia, Georgia, Clemson, Tennessee, Ohio State, and LSU. South Carolina got the last one during the final weekend of June over the summer.

“The people in the building is what excites me the most,” Gray said this summer. “The fan base is amazing as well that continues to welcome me in Cola every time I have the chance.”

During the course of Gray’s recruitment, a host of Gamecock football staffers played important roles: Beamer, offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley, Director of Recruiting – Offense Sam Serbay, and Director of Player Personnel and Recruiting Darren Uscher.

“A good potential fit would be just the culture I’m coming in for,” he said of Beamer’s program during a conversation with On3. “I already have the feeling if I ever play for coach Beamer I will do everything I can to help the city and state win a National Championship and that will only make me better to get closer to my goal.”

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