The powerhouse Woodruff football team is loaded up for another big season in 2025, and leading the way will be junior running back Aiden Gibson (6-1 203). Last season, he powered his way to 1555 yards and 27 touchdowns. As a result, major programs like South Carolina, Florida, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Rutgers, Indiana, Florida State and Tennessee have told him they want him when he comes out with the 2027 class.
“I really did expect it to happen after my tenth-grade season with my team,” Gibson said. “I don’t really let the hype and the stuff that everybody says about me really get to me. I’m still a kid, so I’m really focused on my team and how we’re going to play this year. I’m really a team guy, so I’m not really worried about my offers. I’m just really focused on my team right now. I am truly blessed and grateful for what I have from a standpoint to where I’m getting all these offers and looks. Yes, it is fun to talk and build relationships with college coaches. I really look forward to stuff like that in the future.”
Gibson has excellent speed with a forty time of 4.6 seconds. But it’s not his speed that’s his best quality.
“How big I am,” Gibson said. “When a defender sees me, it’s something that you’ve got to think about, hitting me, because I love contact. I think that’s something that really helps me with my game. I don’t run away from it. I love contact. It’s part of the game. Never stepping out of bounds. My coach used to tell me all the time it’s better for me to go out of bounds and not try to get an extra yard, but I do it all the time. It’s something I love to do. I like hitting people. It makes the game fun to me.”
South Carolina coach Shane Beamer and running backs coach Marquel Blackwell are well aware of the quality running backs in the ’27 class in South Carolina. They have identified Gibson as one of those backs, and they are making a strong push for him. They offered in April, the second major program to offer following Virginia Tech.
“They are recruiting me hard right now,” Gibson said. “As I was told, I’m a priority for them as a running back. My relationship with Coach Beamer and Coach Blackwell, and the whole coaching staff, is very tight. That’s another school that’s recruiting me hard, and I take pride in that because that’s a school I’m looking forward to. That’s a school that’s recruiting me hard, and I really like everything about that.”
What Gibson really likes about the idea of going to USC is his belief that he can be developed for the next level in his career by spending a few years with Beamer and Company.
“I was talking with Coach Beamer about it. They do develop a lot of stars on the field,” he said. “If you think that you’re not going to play, you’re going to play some. I don’t care where I go, I just want to go play as a freshman and be able to get at least one snap a game. I think over there, or anywhere else, I think I can go there and ball out. Most importantly, Coach Beamer and Coach Blackwell tell me about development, and that’s something I’m looking forward to as a college running back. I want to be developed.”
Gibson has yet to attend a regular-season game at Williams-Brice Stadium, though he was on hand for the spring game in April. He’s also made other recruiting visits to USC, and he plans to be back for games this season, including the Clemson game.
As for Clemson, Gibson said he’s not having any contact right now from running backs coach CJ Spiller, despite getting a good look from him at camp in June.
“I love the coaching staff over there,” Gibson said. “I went over there for a camp, and they really did coach hard. I like to be coached hard, no matter where it is. That’s something I had a lot of fun with over there.”
The other schools that are showing the strongest interest in Gibson right now are Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Florida State and Indiana. Vols running backs coach De’Rail Sims has been recruiting him since before his tenth-grade season, and he has developed a strong relationship with him. Gibson plans to go to a game at Indiana, and he will be at the Alabama at Florida State game as well.
As for favorites right now, in no order, Gibson listed South Carolina, Tennessee and Florida State.
By the way, Gibson said he’ll also play some wide receivers, safety and outside linebacker this season.