Shane Beamer is backing up his words with action—and the South Carolina Gamecocks just landed a major recruiting win to prove it.
Over the weekend, South Carolina picked up a huge commitment from 2026 four-star quarterback Landon Duckworth, one of the most exciting prospects to join the class so far. The timing is no coincidence. This recruiting win lines up perfectly with the confident tone Beamer set at this year’s SEC Media Days.
Coming off his best season yet with a 9-4 record, Beamer made it clear that South Carolina’s success wasn’t a one-time surge. He told reporters, “We’re built for years to come and are going to continue to be good at South Carolina. We are not going anywhere.” Beamer also praised the school as a recruiting destination, highlighting the academic strength, the Columbia setting, and the loyal fanbase. “It’s a great place to recruit to… the best fan base in all of America.”
Duckworth joins a quarterback room that’s already in transition. LaNorris Sellers will lead the Gamecocks this season, but with NFL buzz swirling around him, his time in Columbia may be limited. That leaves the door wide open for a new leader in 2026—potentially Duckworth or Air Noland, a former Ohio State quarterback who transferred in this offseason.
Beamer has also been loading up on young weapons around the QB position. The Gamecocks’ wide receiver corps features six players who are either sophomores or freshmen, with five being true freshmen. Across the roster, 18 players on the two-deep depth chart are redshirt sophomores or younger, showing just how much youthful potential this program has stockpiled.
The challenge now is turning that potential into sustained production on the field. South Carolina surprised many with their success in 2024—but if Duckworth’s commitment is any indication, the future may be even brighter.
