Recruiting Battle Heats Up: South Carolina and Clemson in Spotlight.
South Carolina’s quarterback recruiting efforts took an intriguing turn on January 26 when highly touted QB prospect Brady Smigiel announced his decommitment from Florida State. The Newbury Park, California, standout originally committed to the Seminoles last summer but is now exploring new options.
Standing at 6’4″ and 220 pounds, Smigiel has caught the attention of South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer, who visited the young quarterback earlier this month. Smigiel’s connection to the Gamecocks goes beyond Beamer’s visit. His father, Joe Smigiel, head coach at Newbury Park and a former Arizona offensive lineman, has a history with USC Director of Player Personnel Darren Uscher from his UCLA days.
Smigiel’s decision to reopen his recruitment followed coaching changes at Florida State, where Mike Norvell replaced his offensive coordinator with Gus Malzahn. According to Coach Joe Smigiel, interest in South Carolina grew after the Gamecocks hired Mike Shula as offensive coordinator.

“We were interested in USC because Mike Shula was hired,” Coach Smigiel said. “He’s a pro-type guy, and there are some good pro aspects to their offense. That’s kind of where it started. The three of them watched film and they signed off on it.”
Coach Beamer solidified the Gamecocks’ interest with a visit to Smigiel’s school.
“Coach Beamer showed great interest in Brady, and it’s just evolving as it goes,” Coach Smigiel said. “We’re going to take a trip out there this spring, let Brady sit in the quarterback room, and see what they do. We’ll also take visits to other schools like Washington, UCLA, Michigan, and Michigan State.”
Smigiel’s rising stock in the football world is undeniable. Named Mr. Football in California, he passed for 3,521 yards and 49 touchdowns this season, pushing his career totals to 11,222 yards and 147 touchdowns. South Carolina is one of two schools heavily pursuing Smigiel for the 2026 class, alongside Jared Curtis of Nashville, who has scheduled an official visit with the Gamecocks in June.
Gamecocks Make Tough Call on LB Rodney Colton
In other South Carolina news, the Gamecocks parted ways with 2026 linebacker Rodney Colton of Newnan, Georgia. Hale McGranahan of TheBigSpur reported that the coaching staff felt Colton wasn’t fully committed. However, Colton disputed this claim, noting he had remained loyal to his commitment since April 2024 despite receiving 20 offers.
Linebackers coach Clayton White expressed concern over Colton’s visits to other programs, reportedly stating he acted more like a free agent than a committed recruit. Colton recently received offers from Missouri and met with coaches from Ole Miss and Mississippi State, further complicating his standing with South Carolina.
Clemson’s Recruiting Push
Meanwhile, Clemson is locked in a recruiting battle for OT Maxwell Riley of Avon Lake, Ohio. Riley, standing at 6’5″ and 270 pounds, has narrowed his choices to Clemson and Ohio State after eliminating Alabama, Notre Dame, and others.
“I think Clemson and Ohio State have separated themselves in my recruitment,” Riley said.
Clemson offensive line coach Matt Luke visited Riley recently, emphasizing his belief in versatile players who can play multiple positions.
“Coach Luke told me I could probably play anywhere,” Riley said. “When I finish high school, I’ll have played tackle, guard, center, and tight end.”
Riley plans one final visit to each school in March before making his decision.
Other Key Developments
- Cam Brooks, a Thomasville, Georgia, DE, listed Clemson in his top nine, alongside programs like Georgia and Ohio State.
- Clemson offensive line coach Matt Luke visited Zaden Krempin of Prosper, Texas, who plans to attend Clemson’s junior day on March 8.
- DE Khamari Brooks has Clemson, Georgia, and Alabama in his final three, with a visit to Clemson set for March.
South Carolina-Clemson Showdown
Both programs are also vying for OT Carter Scruggs of Leesburg, Virginia, who listed Clemson and South Carolina among his top 12.
With top recruits narrowing their options and making final visits, the battle for elite talent in 2025 is heating up. As always, both Shane Beamer and Dabo Swinney are leaving no stone unturned. Stay tuned for further updates!