Staley Hosts Another Top Recruit at Football Game, Capping Big Recruiting Weekend / sportsearchers.com

South Carolina continues leveraging football Saturdays as a major recruiting tool, with Dawn Staley once again bringing a top prospect to Williams-Brice Stadium — this time five-star center Zaniya Johnson, who was spotted on the sideline before the Kentucky game on October 3.

Johnson’s Visit Details

Johnson, a 6-foot-4 center, first arrived in Columbia on October 2 for her official visit, according to her social media. Before kickoff, Staley, Tessa Johnson, and Joyce Edwards served as celebrity starters, hyping up the crowd, while assistant coaches and players including Kaeli Wynn and Jerzy Robinson were seen alongside Zaniya Johnson during the visit.

A Big Day for South Carolina Recruiting

The sighting came on the heels of significant news earlier that same day — four-star point guard Taylor Brown officially committed to South Carolina at 2 p.m., becoming Staley’s first commitment of the 2027 recruiting cycle, choosing the Gamecocks over Tennessee and North Carolina.

Johnson’s Recruiting Profile

Ranked No. 18 nationally in ESPN’s Class of 2027 rankings, Johnson has narrowed her choices to five finalists: South Carolina, LSU, Florida State, Texas A&M, and Mississippi State. The Biloxi, Mississippi native, who plays for Biloxi High School, received her South Carolina offer from Staley back in August 2025. Staley has stayed closely connected to her recruitment since, most recently watching her compete for Team Untamed at the Pro-16 Finals in July.

A Pattern of Football Weekend Visits

This isn’t the first time Staley has used a football game to host top recruits. On September 19, she brought five-stars Jordyn Palmer and GG Banks, along with Brown, to Columbia for South Carolina’s football game against Mississippi State — a visit that ultimately helped lead to Brown’s commitment just two weeks later.

What This Means for South Carolina

With Brown’s commitment now locked in and Johnson continuing her official visit as one of five finalists still weighing her decision, South Carolina’s recruiting momentum for the 2027 class appears to be building steadily. Pairing football gameday atmosphere with direct exposure to Staley, her coaching staff, and current players has clearly become a deliberate and effective recruiting strategy — one that could pay additional dividends if Johnson, like Brown before her, chooses to join the Gamecocks following her visit.