Zahbari Sandy, an elite player in the Washington, D.C. area, has announced a commitment to play in the SEC.

Sandy on Sunday became the first commitment for South Carolina in the class of 2023. Sandy is a 3-star safety who plays at St. Johns High School, and is rated the No. 4 player in the Washington area, and the No. 39 safety in the class, according to the 247Sports Composite.

Sandy thanked God, his parents and coaches, and said he would shut down his recruitment following this announcement. He chose South Carolina after a reported 21 offers.

“I picked South Carolina because they’re family, the relationships I’ve built with coach Beamer and coach Gray,” Sandy told Rivals’ Adam Friedman, via Gamecock Central. “They showed a lot of hospitality and the most love to me. They kept it real with me from the jump.

“Every school told me I could play right away or play all the positions but what stood out to me was coach Beamer telling me there is a spot for me on that team right now and I can play all those positions and play at a high level. My goal is to play in the NFL and playing in the SEC helps my chances.”

Here are his highlights from Hudl: