Shane Beamer Saturday won a major head to head battle with an SEC East rival. Kansas transfer CB Karon Prunty (6-1 189) announced he will join USC this season, picking the Gamecocks over Tennessee. It was the second big piece of recruiting news for Beamer Saturday. Earlier offensive tackle Cason Henry announced a commitment to the Gamecocks.
Prunty visited USC and Tennessee for a couple of days each earlier this month. He was one of the most highly prized prospects in the NCAA Transfer Portal following an outstanding freshman season at Kansas.
The native of Portsmouth, VA was named a Freshman All-American and earned Big 12 Honorable Mention All-Conference honors. He started all nine games for the Jayhawks last season. He totaled 26 tackles, broke up 10 passes and had one interception. In 525 snaps, he did not allow a touchdown pass his way and only 38.5% pass completion.
Prunty was rated a three-star prospect and ranked #137 nationally among corners in the 247Sports Composite of 2020. He first committed to Liberty, then flipped to Kansas in December 2019 He signed with the Jayhawks later that month and enrolled in January 2020. He also had offers from Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Charlotte, Pitt, Army and Connecticut.
Prunty is the second defensive back the Gamecocks have plucked from the transfer portal who will count towards the 2022 class. In the spring they landed SAF Tyrese Ross of Washington State. The Gamecocks count ten in that class now and have three more players committed who have not yet publicly announced. The Gamecocks now have ten transfers from the portal set to join their roster in the fall of 2021.
