5-Star Offensive Lineman Darius Gray Commits South Carolina

Five-star offensive lineman Darius Gray has committed to the University of South Carolina, choosing the Gamecocks over top programs including LSU, Tennessee, Clemson, and Ohio State. Gray, ranked No. 30 overall and the No. 2 interior offensive lineman nationally in the 2026 class, is the first five-star recruit for coach Shane Beamer in this cycle and a significant boost to South Carolina's recruiting class, which is ranked in the top 25 nationally. At 6-foot-3 and 285 pounds, Gray has been pursued by South Carolina since 2022 and his commitment marks the highest-rated recruit in the Gamecocks’ 2026 class, which now includes multiple blue-chip offensive linemen to protect quarterback Landon Duckworth. Gray's pledge comes shortly after four-star lineman Kamari Blair flipped from South Carolina to Tennessee, but Gray's addition strengthens South Carolina’s offensive line depth. His commitment continues the program's recent success in landing elite talent, joining a group of four five-star signees under Beamer since 2021. The Gamecocks open their 2025 season soon, facing Virginia Tech, one of Gray’s home-state teams.