South Carolina makes top list for elite offensive line prospect
On Monday, class of 2027 four-star offensive tackle Joshua Sam-Epelle cut his list of contending schools to 10, and South Carolina made the cut, he told Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett. Joining the Gamecocks in the Sam-Epelle Sweepstakes are the Georgia Bulldogs, Tennessee Volunteers, Miami Hurricanes, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Texas A&M Aggies, Alabama Crimson Tide, Ohio State Buckeyes, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, and Ole Miss Rebels.
A Douglasville (GA) Douglas County product, Sam-Epelle is a big-time tackle who has bounced back well from a sophomore knee injury.
For much of Sam-Epelle’s recruitment, South Carolina and Georgia have been at the top. He called the Gamecocks “the team to beat” during the preseason. (It is worth noting that South Carolina has moved on from offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley and offensive coordinator Mike Shula since Epelle’s comments.) The home-state Bulldogs have surged over the last month or two. Teams like Miami and Tennessee are heavily involved, too.
The big fella was on campus at USC earlier this fall. He has also made visits to Georgia, Miami, Tennessee, Auburn, and Georgia Tech.
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Listed at 6-9 and 305 pounds, Sam-Epelle is one of the biggest offensive line prospects in the country, both literally and on recruiting boards. His wingspan is around seven feet, and he possesses surprising athleticism for a player his size.
Early playing time has long been a priority for Sam-Epelle. That is something that South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee have been willing to give talented young linemen. For USC, freshmen linemen Shed Sarratt, Josiah Thompson, Tree Babalade, and Trovon Baugh have started over the last three years. Thompson and Babalade started at tackle, the position the Peach State blocker plays.
The Rivals Industry Ranking positions Sam-Epelle as the No. 48 overall player in the class of 2027. He’s also No. 8 nationally among offensive tackles and No. 6, regardless of position, in Georgia.