Another of the private commitments to USC coach Shane Beamer went public Tuesday. Four-star OT Ryan Brubaker (6-6 280) of Stevens, PA announced just after noon that he had committed to the Gamecocks over Penn State, Stanford, Vanderbilt and Tennessee. He took official visits to all five schools and had planned to announce July 4th before deciding to move his decision up.
Brubaker’s father played at Penn State and many viewed the Nittany Lions as his likely choice as his recruiting wound down. But after taking an official visit to USC the weekend of June 11th, Brubaker found many things that appealed to him, and that led to his commitment to the Gamecocks.
“There was just something intangible while we were there that to this day I can’t really put my finger on about what exactly it was,” Brubaker said. “I think it was the combination of the staff, the school itself, the location, it was just the perfect storm where it felt right. It was one of those things that even when they offered, they intrigued me. They were my second Power Five offer, I don’t know. Whether it was the mascot, the history of the school, it was just like, South Carolina, that school interests me. They earned their way into my top five and they earned my commitment. Incredible people and an incredible place.”
Brubaker is one of the most highest rated commitments thus far for the Gamecocks 2022 class. In the 247Sports Composite, he is a four-star prospect and is ranked the #24 offensive tackle in his class and the #7 prospect in his state. He is seeing other talented players join the class as well, thus he sees big things ahead for his career and the program.
“I feel really good about the ’22 class,” Brubaker said. “I don’t know exactly where I’m going to fit. I know Coach (Greg) Adkins has said they are thin at true tackle builds, and I have the opportunity to play earlier than I would at most SEC programs or Power Five programs. Wherever I end up playing on the field, I’m going to go in, work my rear end off and make sure that I earn it. At this point in my mind, they never mattered, especially now, the ratings and articles about projected ability and all that stuff, that doesn’t matter at this point. At this point, it’s making sure I work myself into a position where that’s a possibility.”
Brubaker, who also swims and throws for his track team, will not graduate early so that he can participate in those sports next spring.
Brubaker gives the Gamecocks 11 new commitments with another announcement pending Tuesday afternoon. And they have two other private commitments to be revealed in early July. Sixteen of the 25 spots in the 2022 class are accounted for at this point.
USC 2022 recruiting class
- TYRESE ROSS SAF 6-2 185 TRANSFER WASHINGTON STATE
- KARON PRUNTY CB 6-1 189 TRANSFER KANSAS
- GRAYSON MAINS OT 6-5 265 SUWANEE, GA
- BRADEN DAVIS QB 6-5 185 MIDDLETOWN, DE
- DONOVAN WESTMORELAND LB 6-2 195 GRIFFIN, GA
- KAJUAN BANKS CB 5-10 170 TALLAHASSEE
- JY’VONTE MCCLENDON SAF 6-2 180 LAKELAND, FL
- JAMAAL WHYCE DT 6-4 250 MIAMI
- PEYTON WILLIAMS SAF 6-0 180 ROCKLEDGE, TX
- CASON HENRY OT 6-6 290 MARIETTA, GA
- KYLIC HORTON WR 6-4 180 CLARENDON HALL
- ANTHONY ROSE SAF 6-4 180 MIAMI
- RYAN BRUBAKER OT 6-6 280 STEVENS, PA
Welcome aboard Ryan! You made a great choice academically and athletically.