Editor’s Note: All rankings, both individual and team, are courtesy of 247Sports.

Numerous highly-rated decommitments temporarily damaged South Carolina’s 2015 recruiting class in early December, but the players that have stuck with Steve Spurrier and staff have the Gamecocks ranked in the nation’s Top 20 according to several recruiting services.

Defense was an emphasis this cycle, notably up front where Lorenzo Ward’s unit struggled this season without a fear pass rusher off the edge. Out of 26 expected newcomers, half are on the defensive side of the ball including seven designated as weak or strong-side ends.

One of the biggest targets remaining is four-star cornerback Mark Fields who changed his mind in December. One of the perceived jewels in the 2015 class and top cover guys in the country, Fields has opened up his recruitment after his decommitment and listed Clemson and Texas as favorites on Jan. 3. The Gamecocks will remain in contact with him until coaches feel he’s a lock elsewhere.

Current South Carolina 2015 recruiting class

  • National Rank: No. 14
  • SEC Rank: No. 7
  • No. of Commitments: 26
  • No. of Commitments by Rating: 11 four-stars, 15 three-stars

Notable commits

NAT RANK PLAYER STAR POSITION HEIGHT WEIGHT
3 Marquavius Lewis (JUCO) 4 DE 6’4 271
103 Arden Key 4 DE 6’5 230
152 Shameik Blackshear 4 DE 6’5 240
176 Jalen Christian 4 ATH 5’10 165
1 Dexter Wideman 4 DE 6’4 260
250 Christian Pellage 4 OL 6’7 280
267 Octavis Johnson 4 ATH 6’1 180