STRecruiting: South Carolina sitting among the favorites with North Carolina linebacker Skylar Alston

2028 LB Skylar Alston (6-2 220) of Raleigh has long held South Carolina in high regard. The Gamecocks and linebacker coach Clayton White have been recruiting Alston for an extended period. Alston has, in his estimation, visited USC seven times. Wednesday, Alston showed that the Gamecocks have done well by him, as he included them in his top ten.

“Just constant communication, just with everybody, the whole staff,” Alston said. “They definitely treat me like a family, definitely doing a great job recruiting. I talk to Coach White every week. Coach Beamer every week. I just talk to everybody. Coach T-Money every week. So yeah, it definitely feels amazing. They definitely treat me like a priority.”

Alston said that from his conversations with White and assistant linebackers coach Trey Money, he’s gotten a good read on how they feel about him and how he would be used.

“Definitely my speed and everything I got to offer because I’m definitely a versatile backer,” Alston said. “They see that as well. I can play any position on the field. I can come down to the edge, go deep at rover, nickel, safety, everywhere. I’m kind of like a fly around backer, so I can do everything: cover, blitz. That’s definitely what they like about me.”

Alston said he has been impressed with the play of the Gamecock linebackers, and especially with how White coaches up his guys.

“I love Coach White. That’s my guy,” Alston said. “With him being a North Carolina guy too and local. He’s actually from, like, 20 minutes from my house, so it’s local.”

Alston plans to make his first visit for a USC game this season next weekend when the Gamecocks host Kentucky. He also plans to get around to the other schools on his short list: SMU, Tennessee, Michigan, Kentucky, Georgia, UCLA, Penn State, Auburn and Oregon. He has been to Tennessee and Michigan, and he’s going to Auburn this weekend and Penn State on October 10th.

“I will try to visit every school that’s in that small group,” he said. “Just trying to find some dates. Our dates are crazy because we play like a lot of Saturday games this year.”

Last season, Alston recorded 141 tackles with 27 tackles for loss and two sacks. Thus far this season, he has 62 tackles with nine tackles for loss and two sacks.