Gamecocks OL target sets announcement date
One of the top targets for the South Carolina Gamecocks in the 2024 recruiting cycle has now locked in a decision date and time.
GamecockCentral.com is told that Greenville (South Carolina) offensive lineman Blake Franks plans to announce his choice on Friday, March 31, at 3:45 p.m.
South Carolina is the current leader for Franks’ services according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM), with a 95 percent chance to land him.
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The On3 RPM utilizes machine learning, expert predictions, social sentiment, visits, and historical trends to predict where prospects may attend school in college.
The Upstate native is ranked by the On3 Consensus as a three-star prospect and as the seventh-best prospect in the Palmetto State for the 2024 class.
Franks previously told GamecockCentral.com what he hopes to find in a college program.
“I just have to feel comfortable with the school,” Franks said in January. “And be comfortable with their values.”
Among Franks’ offers are tenders from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Miami, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Penn State, and numerous others.
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The 6-foot-5, 315-pounder was recently back on campus once again in Columbia to take in a Gamecocks spring practice session.
Multiple South Carolina coaches have been heavily involved in Franks’ recruitment, including offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley, who was promoted into the position this offseason.
“I love it,” Franks said of his relationship with Teasley back in January. “He is a cool guy and I know he deserved the promotion. I’m happy for him.”
Analyst Greg Adkins, director of player personnel Taylor Edwards and player personnel/recruiting assistant Sam Serbay have also played a role key role in Franks’ recruitment.
Landing Franks would give Shane Beamer’s program another quality acquisition for a 2024 class that currently ranks in the top 10 according to the On3 Consensus Rankings.
On3’s Joe Spears wrote the following in a March breakdown of South Carolina’s recruiting efforts:
“Another top in-state target, Blake Franks likely profiles as a guard at the next level. The Gamecocks have made a major recent push for the Greenville (S.C.) three-star prospect who was at one time considered a major Clemson lean. The potential addition of Thompson, Franks and in-state DB lean Kelvin Hunter would mean the Gamecocks were 5-for-5 on landing their in-state offers for 2024.”
