South Carolina has one of the premier defensive ends in the country in Dylan Stewart, and he’s expected to be a high draft pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. Just as when Jadaveon Clowney moved on, there will be a huge void left on the Gamecock defense when Stewart’s time is up.
USC defensive ends coach Sterling Lucas, however, is working a talented prospect who could follow right in the Clowney-Stewart line. KJ Green (6-4 220) of Stone Mountain, GA is thought of as one of the top defensive end prospects in the 2027 class, and he’s very high on the Gamecocks at this stage of his recruitment.
“I love it there, honestly,” Green said. “One of my top schools at the moment. One of my hardest pushing schools at the moment. I love everything about it. The culture is insane. The coaching staff. How they run the team. Their defensive scheme, I see myself fitting into that defensive scheme very well. I want to be close to home, but also don’t want to be too far, and I feel like South Carolina is a very good distance for me.”
Green has made multiple visits to USC. He was at the Akron game last season. He’s been in for a junior day and a camp. He saw the Gamecocks play Virginia Tech in Atlanta this season, and he was in Columbia for the Vanderbilt game. He plans to return for the Alabama and Clemson games.
Green said he’s in constant contact with the USC coaches and, in fact, had a call with the entire defensive staff on Monday after his practice.
He has also been to games this season at Clemson, Nebraska, Southern Cal and Florida State. Clemson isn’t a factor with him at this point. He plans to visit Tennessee this Saturday.
Right now, Green said his top five, in no order, are South Carolina, Alabama, Southern Cal, Texas A&M, and a tie among Nebraska, Florida and Texas.
Green is simply a playmaker on defense. Through seven games, he has 84 tackles with 27 tackles for loss and 17 sacks. Coaches are drooling over his skills.
“People say my versatility,” Green said about what coaches see as his strength. “Being a 6-4, 220-pound defensive end, being able to play from 0 through 9 (technique), I can line up anywhere on the field and dominate. I feel like that’s what a lot of people love about me.”