In the 2025 season, South Carolina Gamecocks are turning to a new wave of freshmen who could make an immediate impact on the field. This tradition of having freshmen contribute quickly is nothing new for the program, as evidenced by last year’s standout performances from true freshmen Dylan Stewart and Josiah Thompson, both of whom earned spots on the SEC All-Freshman team. Stewart even went on to become a semifinalist for the prestigious Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.
So, who are the freshmen to watch in 2025? Malik Clark and Lex Cyrus are two names that could be key contributors for the Gamecocks. Both wide receivers, Clark and Cyrus will be essential to reviving a position group that struggled in 2024, with no receiver surpassing 400 yards. Their talents will be crucial in supporting standout quarterback LaNorris Sellers, offering him much-needed deep threats.
Clark, a four-star recruit and the second-best player in South Carolina according to 247Sports, brings impressive speed to the table, clocking a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the Under Armour Next camp. Cyrus, another four-star recruit, hails from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and boasts a personal best of 10.4 seconds in the 100 meters. With both of these speedsters on the roster, they can help stretch the defense and provide Sellers with reliable deep options.
In addition to the receivers, Shedrick Sarratt Jr. may also make an immediate impact, particularly on the offensive line. Following the departure of Vershon Lee to the NFL draft, the Gamecocks are in need of a new starting right tackle. Sarratt Jr., a 6-foot-4, 300-pound four-star tackle ranked fifth in South Carolina by 247Sports, could be the answer. His physicality and skill make him a prime candidate to step in and contribute right away.
Overall, South Carolina’s 2025 recruiting class, ranked 22nd in the country by 247Sports, includes 18 new recruits. It remains to be seen if any of these freshmen, like Dylan Stewart in 2024, will emerge as major contributors, but all eyes are certainly on Clark, Cyrus, and Sarratt Jr. as the Gamecocks look to build for the future.
