Gamecocks football: Shane Beamer raves about Grayson Howard

Grayson Howard is making an impact for the South Carolina football program — and he hasn’t played a game yet.

Howard, a linebacker from Jacksonville, Florida and one of the 10 four-star recruits who signed with the Gamecocks on Wednesday, has been very active in growing this year’s recruiting class and helping keep it intact.

USC coach Shane Beamer singled Howard out during his signing day press conference.

“Grayson ‘Pup’ Howard is unbelievable.,” Beamer said. “When I told you about a text message from a recruit saying that we want people that would die for this university — that was Pup. … His ability as a player speaks for himself. He’s got a great personality. He is so positive all the time, competitive, mature, business-like. I’m impressed with him the more and more I am around him.”

Howard’s official signing was the first one announced Wednesday by USC shortly after 7:20 a.m.

“He did a great job recruiting these other guys and we had a lot of guys who got this class going,” Beamer said. “But the momentum he created because he is such a national recruit … he turned down so many programs to come here and was a huge pickup for us. He is going to make our program better from Day One.”

Howard already is having an impact on the field, as he enrolled early and was is taking part in bowl practice before the team arrives for Jacksonville on Christmas Day for the TaxSlayer Bowl. He will play in the All-American Bowl and then come back to campus to begin classes in early January, Beamer said.

“Most kids would be at home celebrating signing day and having parties but he wanted to practice,” Beamer said. “He’s awesome.”

Howard committed to USC on June 27 over Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, LSU and Tennessee, among others. He had a standout season at Andrew Jackson High School this year, recording a team-high 188 tackles including 18 for loss.

This story was originally published December 21, 2022 3:58 PM.