Four-star defensive back includes South Carolina among favorites

The state of North Carolina has become a major source of talent for Shane Beamer’s recruiting efforts at South Carolina. On Tuesday, another prospect from the Tar Heel State revealed his affinity for the Gamecocks. Four-star class of 2027 defensive back Davion Jones announced his top eight schools, and USC made the cut.

Joining South Carolina on Jones’ list are the Clemson Tigers, Tennessee Volunteers, Georgia Bulldogs, Vanderbilt Commodores, Florida State Seminoles, North Carolina Tar Heels, and LSU Tigers.

Though not his first visit to see the Gamecocks, Jones was most recently on campus in Columbia for South Carolina’s win over Kentucky. That trip pushed his visit count to USC near double-digits. Jones has also been to Clemson, LSU, and NC State this fall. The two Tigers programs were among his favorites, but the Wolfpack were not.

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Jones, a 6-foot versatile defensive back from West Charlotte High School in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a consensus four-star prospect. Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN all rate him as a top-160 national player at safety.

According to the Rivals Industry Ranking–a weighted composite score based on rankings from the three major recruiting services–Jones is the No. 116 overall player in the class of 2027. He is No. 12 nationally among safeties and No. 6, regardless of position, in North Carolina.

Jones possesses good speed, fluid athleticism, and a knack for making plays for his West Charlotte defense. He can operate in zone coverage or man, and he is a willing tackler. He plays all over the secondary for his Mighty Lions team, showcasing versatility that appeals to South Carolina defensive backs coach Torrian Gray.

Jones recently told GamecockCentral that a return trip to Columbia this fall is likely.

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