STRecruiting: Woodruff RB Aiden Gibson was back at USC for the Alabama game, and Clemson is stepping up it’s game with him

One of the state’s top 2027 prospects, RB Aiden Gibson (6-1 203) made a return visit to Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday to take in the South Carolina battle with Alabama. That was his second visit to watch the Gamecocks in Columbia, but the third time he’s seen them in person this season. He was in Atlanta for the season-opening win over Virginia Tech.

Head coach Shane Beamer and running backs coach Marquel Blackwell have made Gibson one of their primary running back targets for the 2027 class, and they made him feel like a priority on the most recent visit.

“Everything was perfect.  They always show me love when I’m there,” Gibson said.  “I really watch the way they recruit other players, and how they recruit me also.  They treat everybody the same, just as if they were on the team.  I saw a couple of bad plays happen, and I just loved the way they coached the kids up after everything happened.  They just kept fighting no matter what.  It’s just the culture of that team and the culture of the players and the coaches that everybody leads by example.  That’s something that I’m really big on at my school.  We’re taught on culture.  Coach Black and Coach Beamer and the whole coaching staff are recruiting me very hard. I had a fun time being back around there.”

Blackwell sees a running back in Gibson who could be deployed in a variety of ways.

“Coach Black tells me I’m an all-around back,” Gibson said.  “I can get out of the backfield, go to empty, catch some balls.  He was telling me about my route running, and things that I can like that, and I could help the team out potentially.  And the way that I make big runs and have my eyes open.  He was telling me to stay healthy and that he’s just going to keep on recruiting me hard.  That’s what I love about him. Me and him had a good time laughing at jokes and everything.”

Along with USC, Gibson also has offers from Tennessee, Maryland, Florida State, Indiana, Rutgers, Georgia Tech, NC State, Virginia Tech, Florida and others. The Gamecocks have been a mainstay throughout his recruitment, and last weekend’s visit put them on his pending short list.

“They are definitely in my top ten, top twelve, that I’m going to drop probably a little after my season ends,” Gibson said.  “They are losing a couple of games and stuff like that, but I still believe in the culture of that team.  I’m not going anywhere, and they won’t go anywhere out of my top ten. I’m not worried about anything else, I’m just worried about where I know I can go and play, and how hard they show me love and recruit me really hard.”

Clemson is looming with Gibson. Tigers running backs coach CJ Spiller visited him last week at school during the Tigers’ open date.

“It was great talking to him.  We talked for a few minutes.  He was just checking up on me and my family. He’s keeping up with me,” Gibson said.  “Me and him are actually in touch now.  Me and him are starting to talk a lot more now.  I’m just ready to see where that goes.  Hopefully, I plan on going to one of their games before it’s over with.  I think he’s real interested in me.”

Gibson has also been to games this season at Tennessee and Georgia Tech. He is planning to visit Maryland and Appalachian State in November, and Indiana and Rutgers later on down the road.

In eight games this season, Gibson has rushed for 1180 yards and 15 touchdowns. He is averaging over eight yards per carry and has rushed for over 100 yards in seven of his games. For his career, he’s at 3500 yards with 46 touchdowns.