South Carolina will use the Clemson game Saturday to play host to a bevy of top recruits, including current commitments, Florida running back commitment Carsyn Baker, who is taking an official visit, and many targets in the 2027 and 2028 classes.
One of the big names from the 2027 group who plans to attend another USC game is Irmo OT Nate Carson. He has been to a couple of other USC games this season, along with games at Clemson, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida State, Alabama and Nebraska.
The Gamecocks and Tigers have him on their priority lists for sure, and Carson has plenty of reasons to like the in-state programs.
“Carolina is home. Right down the street,” Carson said. “My cousin goes there, Donovan (Murph). It’s an Irmo thing. Clemson, I train with the O-line. Me and the O-line have the same trainer. If I go to Clemson, they are going to know who I am. They are going to know the player I am going to become.”
The offensive line coaches, Shawn Elliott of USC and Matt Luke of Clemson, are locked in a tight battle for Carson at this point. Carson said he’s enjoyed his one-on-one time with Elliott on his visits.
“It’s really in person with the contact. It’s not really over the phone,” Carson. “It’s the same as always. It’s home, and he’s developed O-linemen, and he wants to develop me, too.”
Carson hasn’t seen Luke in person as much, but the contact has also been heavy.
“I love coach Matt Luke. He’s a great guy,” Carson said. “Feels like he talks to my family more than he talks to me. That’s a big thing in my recruitment, because if my parents can trust you, that’s a boost. We’re always talking.”
Along with the in-state programs, Carson named Alabama, Tennessee, LSU, Florida State and Nebraska and out of programs showing him strong interest and trying to turn his head from the Gamecocks and Tigers.
“I’ve always been the type I wanted to leave South Carolina,” he said. “Ever since I’ve been getting recruited by these in-state teams, I’ve just been loving it a lot. I love the in state teams.”
Carson has his future recruiting plans figured out. He will take junior day visits early next year, and then official visits in the spring and summer. USC and Clemson will get both kinds of visits, he confirmed. After that, he will make his commitment on July 3rd, five days prior to his birthday.
“July 3rd, to me, is special because I got in a car accident ten years ago on July 3rd, and they told me I’d never be able to play football again,” Carson said. “Me committing on that day is amazing to me, because the Devil tried to take it away from me. God is good. That’s just stuck with me. That’s my why. It’s just stuck with me for a long time.”
Carson said he’ll be dropping a top ten in the near future, once Hayces Fawcess of Rivals has completed the graphic that he can publish on social media.