South Carolina football signing day recruiting class updates

Wednesday marks the first day of college football’s early signing period. The period lasts through Friday.

Shane Beamer and his coaching staff are putting the finishing touches on their third recruiting class. New names and bios will be added below as they’re confirmed as being officially signed by the school.

Star ratings below are according to 247Sports Composite, which factors in all networks’ rankings.

South Carolina’s in-progress 22-member class — which includes high school and junior college prospects — ranked 16th nationally to start the day in the 247Sports Composite team rankings.

Judge Collier, S (7:30 a.m)

Three stars / 6-foot-1, 185 / Rock Hill

Collier is listed as an athlete but played in the defensive backfield during his high school career. Collier also played a bit of offense, recording 19 catches for 330 yards and a touchdown in 2022 for Legion Collegiate. He was recruited by USC secondary coach Torrian Gray.

Dontavius ‘Djay’ Braswell, RB (7:29 a.m.)

Four stars / 5-foot-11, 200 / Sandersville, Ga.

Productive running back is the 23rd-ranked player from Georgia had a big senior season at Washington County High School. He rushed for 974 yards and 15 touchdowns while catching 29 passes for 375 yards and five scores. Braswell also runs track and was Class 2A 100- and 200-meter champion in the spring.

Xzavier McLeod, DL (7:26 am)

Four stars / 6-foot-5, 305 / Camden

McLeod is the No. 4 overall player in South Carolina, according to 247Sports, and was the state of South Carolina’s Mr. Football. He picked the Gamecocks over Alabama, LSU, Miami and Michigan. Brian Dohn of 247Sports believes McLeod has the “potential to be a mid-round NFL draft selection” after his college career.

Cameron Upshaw, S (7:23 am)

Three stars / 6-foot-2.5, 193 / Perry, Fla.

Upshaw joins the Gamecocks’ secondary unit for the Class of 2023. He played a little bit of quarterback as well during his junior year and had his senior year at Taylor County cut short because of injury. He was recruited by Torrian Gray to South Carolina.

Grayson Howard, LB (7:22 am)

Four stars / 6-foot-3.5, 220 / Jacksonville, Fla.

Howard played at Andrew Jackson High School and graduated this month. Howard said in a radio interview with 107.5 The Game that he would join the Gamecocks during bowl prep. He totaled 188 tackles, five sacks in his senior season and will play in the All-American Bowl next month.

South Carolina football 2023 commitment list

The following recruits were committed to the Gamecocks as of Wednesday morning and are expected to sign with the program Wednesday.

• RB Dontavius Braswell, Washington County (Ga.)
• OL Trovon Baugh, Pace Academy (Ga.)
• OL Jatavius Shivers, Villa Rica (Ga.)
• OL Markee Anderson, Dorman
• OL Oluwatosin Babalade, Hyattsville (Md.)
• WR CJ Adams, Pebblebrook (Ga.)
• WR Tyshawn Russell (Pa.)
• TE Connor Cox, The Bolles School (Fla.)
• TE Reid Mikeska, Cypress (Tx)
• TE Kamron Sandlin, Anniston (Ala.)
• S Judge Collier, Legion Collegiate, Rock Hill
• DL Elijah Davis, East Miss. CC
• DL Xzavier McLeod, Camden
• DL Zavion Hardy, Macon (Ga.)
• DE Monteque Rhames, Manning (transferred from Sumter)
• DE Desmond Umeozulu (Md.)
• LB Grayson Howard, Andrew Jackson (Fla.)
• S Jalon Kilgore, Putnam County (Ga.)
• S Zahbari Sandy, St John’s, Washington (DC)
• S Cam Upshaw, Taylor County (Fla.)
• ATH Vicari Swain, Central (Ga.)
• ATH Kelton Henderson, Lehigh Acres (Fla.)

This story was originally published December 21, 2022 7:25 AM.