Maryland commitment raves about Gamecocks visit. QB target breaks pledge from FSU
South Carolina recruiter Joe DeCamillis paid a visit to Mandarin High School in Jacksonville this month to take a look at defensive tackle Brian Harris, who’s been committed to Maryland since August. He liked what he saw so much, he contacted defensive tackles coach Travian Robertson and suggested he follow up with Harris.
Robertson did just that, and after reviewing film, talking with Harris and with the defensive coordinator at Mandarin, he called Harris last week and made him an offer.
Harris (6-2, 285) said he was ecstatic over the offer and couldn’t wait to follow up with a visit to Columbia. He made that visit on Saturday for the Gamecocks’ junior day.
It was an amazing experience honestly,” Harris said. “When I got there, I’m baffled for words, I don’t know how to explain it. When I got there, I was greeted by the recruiting staff, and I felt love as soon as I got there. My mom told me that she just felt a different presence. I was glad that she said that because I felt it, too. When I spoke to the coaches, it was something different. I’d never experienced something like that. It was genuine.”
One member of the staff who really impressed Harris was director of character and player development Derrick Moore.
“He was exciting. Every word that he spoke was very intentional,” Harris said. “He had every emotion on his face. And he was very loud. After he was done speaking and talking about player development, I hugged him. I was like, man, you made me go from liking the school to loving the school. It was an experience, for real.”
Harris also met up with Robertson for the first time and got a good feel from him about what it would be like to have him as his position coach.
“He looks like he’s going to be mean, but he’s a kind soul,” Harris said. “When I talked to him, it was another genuine experience. Very truthful. He wasn’t holding back on any information any time I asked any questions. He was very honest about all of it.”
There was also the meeting for Harris with head coach Shane Beamer, a meeting that came a day after Beamer was given a new contract that will run through 2030.
“I believe in his dream of winning the championship, I really do, especially with the coaches he has behind him,” Harris said. “He was telling me about what he believed in, and it was exhilarating also.”
While all the coaches impressed Harris, and he was happy to talk with them all, there was another person in the organization he wanted to meet more than any other: defensive end Dylan Stewart.
“That was amazing for me,” he said. “For me, it was everything. I got to take a picture with him. I saw him face to face, and he looked tall, but not as big as I thought. Watching on TV, I’m like, this kid’s huge. But when I looked at him next to me, me being 6-4, he’s not that much bigger, but he’s big. He’s been an idol for a minute. That’s who I watch when I want to watch pass rushing.”
There is still more to be done in recruiting for Harris, but the Gamecocks have put themselves in a place of major relevance.
“I am still, at this moment, committed,” Harris said. “South Carolina is definitely a player in my recruiting, a hundred percent. I have a little bit more of an expectation now that I’ve seen South Carolina. South Carolina is spectacular, unbelievable honesty. Nothing like SEC ball, I tell you that much.”
The USC visit was the first for Harris this recruiting season. He has a visit set to Florida on Feb. 1. He plans to return to USC for the spring game and for an official visit this summer. He also has offers from N.C. State, West Virginia, FAU, FIU, Arkansas State and Duke.
Harris missed three games this past season. He finished with 32 tackles (10 for loss), seven sacks, nine quarterback pressures, seven pass deflections and three forced fumbles.
BRADY SMIGIEL DECOMMITS FROM FSU
South Carolina recently became involved with quarterback Brady Smigiel of Newbury Park, California, but the Gamecocks now find themselves right in the middle of the battle for one of the most highly sought-after signal-callers in the 2026 class.
Smigiel informed On3Sports Sunday afternoon that he had decommitted from Florida State. Smigiel committed to the Seminoles last summer. After a change at the offensive coordinator’s position, Smigiel decided to start looking at some other options.
He had known USC director of player personnel Darren Uscher from his time at UCLA and reached to him. The Gamecocks subsequently offered, and head coach Shane Beamer visited him at his school earlier this month.
Smigiel’s father is also his coach, and he told SportsTalk Media Network last week that South Carolina will be one of the visits they take this spring. Other schools he mentioned were Washington, UCLA, Michigan and Michigan State. Ohio State is now come into the picture following a visit by offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.
Smigiel was named Mr. Football in California this season after passing for 3,521 yards and 49 touchdowns. That pushed his career totals to 11,222 yards and 147 yards.
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