South Carolina quarterback commitment Landon Duckworth of Jackson, AL is not going to back out on the Gamecocks as a result of the firing of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Shula. “I feel like this is where I belong,” Duckworth told Hayes Fawcett of On3 Wednesday night.
That’s big for the Gamecocks because Duckworth could be the heir apparent to LaNorris Sellers. This season, he has thrown for 1583 yards and 15 touchdowns while rushing for 267 yards and six touchdowns.
Duckworth originally committed to the Gamecocks in August of 2023. He decommitted in June of 2024 and committed for a second time on July 18th. Auburn was among his finalists the second time around and was his only other official visit besides USC. The Tigers will still be worth watching as they no doubt will make a run at Duckworth once their new staff is in place.
The news with committed running back Amari Thomas of Blountstown, FL is still good for the Gamecocks, but they are still going to have to sweat this one out until the December signing day.
“I’m committed,” Thomas said Wednesday night, adding that he has talked with USC head coach Shane Beamer this week about the firing of Shula. “He told me they had like a roadblock. Just have some trust. It’s a process. It’s a business, so things like that are going to happen.”
Thomas said he wasn’t happy about the decision by Beamer to move on from Shula.
” I saw the news when they first released it. I didn’t believe that that was going to be him,” Thomas said. “There’s been a lot going on up there. I’m not in shambles, but he was one of the main reasons I was going to South Carolina because he had come to my practice and spoken with my mom. It’s kind of different.”
Thomas has only been to games this season at USC and Florida State. His original commitment, made in late January, was to the Seminoles. He decommitted in July and committed to the Gamecocks less than a month later. Nonetheless, the Seminoles have remained an option.
“Them being only an hour away from home, it’s what you expect,” he said. “I know everybody inside that building is good people. I know them like I grew up with them. Like I said in the beginning, I’m never going to turn anybody about that’s recruiting me. Everybody deserves a chance.. That’s really what it is.”
Georgia Tech can also be added to the mix now. Thomas said the Yellow Jackets have been recruiting him, and he might work in a visit there if he can. Right now, he plans to attend the Clemson at USC game, and he might get back to Florida State for another game.
But, at this point, the battle is between USC and Florida State, with Thomas saying his commitment level sits at a seven.
“It really all just depends on what really happens with both of the teams,” Thomas said. “They are both having tough times. Both programs are good, they are just having some shoes to fill in. I know I can go in either rooms of both teams and make a difference, being a good player or a player that’s going to impact the team with a lot of motivation.”
USC running backs coach Marquel Blackwell, who Thomas is fond of, visited him for his Homecoming game during the Gamecocks’ first open week. He said he’s not aware of any coaches planning to visit this week because his team has a bye for the first round of the playoffs.
Thomas said he will sign in December and enroll in January.
This season, Thomas has rushed for 1406 yards and 19 touchdowns. He is averaging 18 yards per carry.
South Carolina is doing good work on the recruiting side of things with 2027 DT Jesiah Fields (6-4 245) of Charlotte. “They are definitely in my top ten, for sure,” Fields said. “I haven’t made it just yet, but they’ll definitely be up there, for sure.”
Fields said he will make junior day visits and official visits to USC next year before making a decision in the summer.
He has been to a pair of home games this season, with the most recent visit coming for the Alabama game.
“They definitely made me feel welcomed, as always,” Fields said. “I got to see the people who are committed there, and the other guys that they are recruiting. I got to talk to them, so that was good. I definitely loved seeing them play again. They really played well. Very well coached. They played hard, physical, and fast the whole game.”
Interim defensive line coach Jordan Dove has been recruiting Fields while Travian Robertson recovers from his injuries in a car accident. However, Robertson has also made calls to him. In fact, Fields said he talked with the Gamecocks on Thursday night.
“They called and checked in on me to see how the season was going, and see if we had a game tomorrow (Friday). Told them we had a first-round bye,” Fields said. “They called to check in on me and my parents. They definitely want me down there. They said I would fit in very well if I came down there. They are definitely recruiting me very hard, I’d say.”
Fields has also been to games this season at Georgia, Auburn, and NC State. He was in Raleigh last weekend for the upset of Georgia Tech. He might go to Georgia for the Texas game on November 15th, and to Georgia Tech for the Pitt game on November 22nd. And there’s a chance he could return to Columbia for the USC-Clemson game.
In eight games reported to MaxPreps stats, Fields has had 25 tackles with 12 tackles for loss and 3 sacks.
2026 DE Michael Foster (6-3 230) of Indian Land was offered by Clemson. West Virginia offered on Wednesday. He has been committed to East Carolina since July. Foster has been a destructive force this season, totaling 103 tackles in ten games. He has 24 tackles for loss along with ten sacks. As a junior, Foster had 87 tackles and 12 sacks according to MaxPreps stats.
Clemson 2026 target CB Julian Peterson of Atco, NJ, a former Penn State commitment, had planned for an official visit with the Tigers for this weekend. But his game’s are now on Saturday the rest of the season. So, he will visit Wisconsin this weekend arriving Saturday night, and he plans to visit Clemson starting on November 16th after the Tigers return from their game at Louisville on the Friday. He has taken an official visit to North Carolina.
2026 DT Tico Crittendon (6-4 300) of Lithonia, GA, has South Carolina among his favorites after decommitting from Florida State. He just picked up offers from Colorado and Nebraska. He does not yet have the Gamecocks down for a visit. In nine games this season, Crittendon has 51 tackles with 14 tackles for loss and two sacks.
Greenville DE Franklin Whitley is shutting down his recruitment after committing to Florida State earlier in the week. He had considered taking more visits to Clemson and Tennessee this month.
Members of the Michigan staff were to at Dutch Fork Thursday to watch their committed DE Julian Walker practice. South Carolina continues to make a strong push for him.
According to a Rivals report, RB Messiah Mickens has replaced an official visit to South Carolina with one to Ole Miss. He is committed to Penn State but still shopping. he also plans official visits to Oklahoma and Indiana.
2027 PK McCarty Harrelson of LaGrange, GA to visit Clemson Saturday.
2027 RB Tre Segarra of Byrnes and 2027 WR DJ Huggins of Kennesaw, GA plan to visit Clemson Saturday per Paul Strelow of TigerIllustrated. Huggins was just offered by Boise State.
Christ Church 2028 RB Michael Martin to visit Clemson Saturday.
2028 DT Prince Che of Thomasville, GA, to visit Clemson for a second time on Saturday. This season, he has had 32 tackles with 11.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
2029 QB Khayel Sam Fong-Talia of Dillon to visit Clemson Saturday.
Clemson target 2027 LB Kaden Henderson of Tampa to visit Notre Dame Saturday.
South Carolina target 2027 SS AJ Randle was offered by Florida State.
South Carolina and Clemson target OT 2027 OT Maxwell Hiller was offered by Colorado.
South Carolina 2027 targets DE KJ Green of Stone Mountain, GA, 2027 DT Karlos May of Birmingham, WR Jaden Upshaw of Leesburg, Ga and TE Malik Howard of Oak Ridge, TN plan to visit Alabama Saturday.
SAF Zeke Marshall-Curry of Rabun Gap, GA, committed ot Coastal Carolina. He was once committed to Toledo. He played at Westside before transferring to Rabun Gap, and he drew some interest from Clemson.
Son of Florence native and former Florida State and Steelers star LB Lawrence Timmons, 2026 CB Jay Timmons, flipped his commitment from Florida State to Ohio State.
High School Football Scoreboard – Playoffs Round 1
SCHSL – 5A – D1
SCHSL – 5A D2
SCHSL – 4A
SCHSL – 3A
SCHSL – 2A
SCHSL – 1A
SCISA
| 4A |
| PORTER GAUD | 13 | LAURENCE MANNING | 6 |
| BEN LIPPEN | 7 | HEATHWOOD HALL | 48 |
| 3A |
| FIRST BAPTIST | 24 | WILSON HALL | 56 |
| NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN | 13 | PINEWOOD PREP | 60 |
| JOHN PAUL II | 12 | FLORENCE CHRISTIAN | 28 |
| 2A |
| ORANGEBURG PREP | 0 | PEE DEE ACADEMY | 27 |
| THOMAS SUMTER | 6 | BETHESDA ACADEMY | 46 |
| 1A |
| LEE ACADEMY | 28 | COLLETON PREP | 44 |
| BEAUFORT ACADEMY | 20 | DORCHESTER ACADEMY | 36 |
| PATRICK HENRY | 12 | WILLIAMSBURG ACADEMY | 40 |
| CAROLINA ACADEMY | 20 | THOMAS HEYWARD | 47 |
| 8-MAN |
| WARDLAW | 42 | JEFFERSON DAVIS | 44 |
| RICHARD WINN | 20 | HOLLY HILL ACADEMY | 38 |
Next week’s schedule