In the end, South Carolina got DE Zavion Hardy (6-5 262) after all. Hardy, a native of Macon, GA committed to the Gamecocks on August 21st, 2022, prior to his senior season at Tattnall High School. However, he did not sign with the Gamecocks and ended up enrolling at East Mississippi JC.
At the time of his pledge, Hardy selected the Gamecocks over a host of suitors, including Georgia, Florida, Miami, UCF, Jackson State, Ole Miss, and Florida State. He narrowed his decision to the Gamecocks, Florida and Liberty and had scheduled an official visit to Florida.
“The fans are real supportive and they bring a lot of energy into the stadium,” Hardy said when he committed. “We’ve just been in love with South Carolina since day one. It feels like home.”
Hardy made an official visit to USC in the summer but eventually committed to Mississippi State in October. However, USC continued to recruit Hardy and he made an unofficial visit in early November.
Hardy would have been a part of the 2023 class, but now he will come in as part of the 2025 class, two years old and more experienced after two seasons in junior college. This season Hardy had 18 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss and one sack.
Hardy gives the Gamecocks five defensive ends in the class which now numbers 22.