STRecruiting: One of South Carolina’s top receiver targets will be back for the Tennessee game, and he also has a commitment date set

Former Timberland High 2028 WR Jordan Gorham (6-5 185) just recently moved into the starting lineup at IMG Academy. Gorham has started the last five games at the Bradenton, FL school, an indication that he has taken his game to another level.

“We’ve been playing against some really tough opponents, and they’ve been giving me the ball, and I’ve been making the most of my plays,” Gorham said. “Whenever they give me the ball, I know that’s my only opportunity, and I want them to know I want more. Right now, my stats have been pretty low. I was just sitting and waiting my turn a little bit. Coming here, it was definitely a big shock to me, and it hurt a little bit not being able to play, not getting the stats. Right now I’ve got 160 yards, one touchdown, and I can’t remember how many catches. It definitely hurt a little bit, but I told my mom I’m sitting behind two elite receivers. So if I got to sit behind two elite receivers so I can become great, then I’m going to make sure I do that.”

None of that has turned off the recruiters, especially South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer and receivers coach Mike Furrey.

“We’ve been having a great relationship,” Gorham said. “Still talking to Coach Furrey, still talking to Coach Beamer, just building our relationship as much as we can. They tell me that because I’m from the state, it’ll be great to play back home. Do something for my city. And of course, the biggest thing is I can come and help them win the national championship right back where I’m from, back at the crib.”

Gorham has been a target of Beamer and the Gamecocks for many years, going back to when he was just starting to emerge as a prospect. So the ties between him and the program run deep.

“I feel really strongly towards them,” Gorham said. “They’ve been keeping up with me. Of course, they offered me early, so they showed that they believed in me early. I’ll always make sure to put them in whatever top (list) I got, or whatever I have to say about any school because I know they’re one of my biggest supporters and they’ve shown that day in and day out.”

This season, Gorham was in for the Towson game. He is coming back this Saturday for the Tennessee game, and that will give him another chance to study the receivers and how they have progressed in the Kendal Briles’ offense.

“I like Coach Briles’ offense. I like the way he’s been getting the ball to Nick (Harbor), to Nitro (Tuggle), to Donovan Murph, to Mazio (Bennett). I really love it,” he said. “

And after watching the Gamecocks defeat Florida in the Swamp nearly two weeks ago, Gorham’s belief in what Beamer and company are doing only grew stronger.

“It makes me feel good,” Gorham said. “It makes me believe in the program because everybody talks about how Coach Beamer is on the hot seat and how the program isn’t this and isn’t that. But he’s showing he can make that work. I have believed in him from 6th grade, and to the point that he offered me. I have believed in Coach Beamer for the longest.”

Gorham has also been to Florida for a game this season. He is also down for a visit to Louisville on October 31st, and he is also planning to see games at Missouri and Vanderbilt at the end of the season.

Gorham has set July 22nd for his commitment announcement, and he has USC, Wake Forest, Vanderbilt, Louisville, and Missouri standing out the most with him because of the interest they have been showing in him.

“What I’m looking for in a school is for my relationship to be with not only my receiver coach, but with my head coach, with my defensive coaches,” Gorham said. “I want to get along. I want to come to a staff where if my receiver coach is not there, is there another coach I can go talk to? And I want coaches who are interested in my personal life. Can it be something besides football? Do I know you’ve got my back besides football?”