STRecruiting: South Carolina and Clemson will go into season as two of the top teams with 2027 LB Quinton Cypher

2027 LB Quinton Cypher (6-3 220) of Raleigh is regarded as one of the top linebackers nationally in the 2027 class. And he should be. Last season he registered 175 total tackles with 13.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. He also knocked down eight passes and intercepted three.

Cypher is a linebacker who plays all over the field and brings a physical presence. He’s just the type of linebacker South Carolina linebackers coach Clayton White and Clemson linebackers coach Ben Boulware covet.

White and Boulware are two of the dozens of recruiters all over Cypher at this point, and he likes them a lot as well. He currently considers the Gamecocks and Tigers two of his top four programs, along with Georgia and Ohio State, in no particular order.

Cypher has made three visits to USC. He was in for the Akron and Missouri games last season, and he was in earlier this year on a recruiting visit.

“I just like how much they show me love and care, and how hard they’ve been recruiting me,” Cypher said.  “I just really like how bought in the coaching staff is, and the new culture they have ever since Coach (Shane) Beamer got there. The game day, I tell all my friends you need to go to a South Carolina game.  I’m going to another two this year because obviously I like South Carolina, and the games are super fun.  Great facilities.  Great atmosphere.”

Cypher already has a read from White on how he would use him in the Gamecock defense.

“He thinks I’m going to be a player to play in space for them,” Cypher said.  “A player that plays in space, flies around, and gets to the ball.  That’s good because I feel like that’s the best part of my game, just flying around, sometimes making mistakes, but doing that full speed.”

Cypher went to Clemson for The Citadel game last season, and he returned for a camp workout and a recruiting visit in early June.

“They are also recruiting me very hard,” Cypher said.  “Very personable.  I like their culture a lot.  I like how Dabo (Swinney) is.  He has his way, and he doesn’t really switch up for nobody.  It’s really great. I’ve been connecting great with Boulware and Coach (Tom) Allen,” he said.  “We haven’t gotten too much into plans.  Over the next two months and the recruiting late period, we’ll be talking more about how I fit in and the scheme.  More football talk, less recruiting talk.”

Cypher also finds the idea of being coached by Boulware, a star on Clemson’s 2016 national championship team, an appealing factor from the Clemson side of things.

“Coach Boulware did it at the highest level,” Cypher said.  “National championship level.  Great linebacker.  You’re getting the real deal spiel, real deal talk from a guy who actually did it very recently.”

Cypher plans to be at Clemson for the season opener against LSU. He has two USC games planned, Alabama and Clemson. He also plans to be at the following games: TCU at North Carolina, ETSU at Tennessee, Wisconsin at Alabama, NC State at Duke, Alabama at Georgia, Clemson at North Carolina, USC at LSU, Ohio State at Wisconsin, Penn State at Ohio State and Texas at Georgia.

Those game visits will go a long way with Cypher in determining if he stays with his current top four or makes changes from the other seven programs he has as a top 11.

“Go to the games, see who is recruiting me the hardest, because I already have a top four,” Cypher said.  “Just see how it works out, and just do it until you only have one left.  I’m going to consider all eleven.  If they recruit me hard, then they’ll be in the four.”  

The other seven on the short list are Tennessee, LSU, Texas, A&M, Alabama, Wisconsin, Duke and North Carolina. Cypher is looking at January for a decision, but that would change if he decides to wait until taking official visits next summer.