Defender flips commitment from South Carolina to another SEC school

For the second time this month, a top South Carolina commitment has flipped to an SEC foe.

Just a few weeks after four-star cornerback Shamari Earls flipped his pledge from South Carolina to Georgia, three-star linebacker Jaiden Braker told On3 Sports he’s flipping his commitment from the Gamecocks to LSU.

Braker, a 6-foot-3, 212-pound Georgia product, committed to South Carolina on July 6, choosing the Gamecocks over Kentucky, Rutgers and N.C. State.

It wasn’t until recently, though, that LSU got in the picture. Last weekend, Braker visited LSU — the same time that South Carolina hosted its annual Carolina Cookout for commits and recruits — and earned an offer from the Tigers.

Without Braker in the Gamecocks’ recruiting class, South Carolina currently has just two linebackers committed for 2025: thee-star A.J. Holloway and three-star Donovan Darden.

South Carolina’s 2025 recruiting class is down to 18 commits. According to 247Sports, South Carolina’s class ranks 30th in America and 12th in the SEC.

South Carolina football 2025 commits (18)

Jayden Sellers (WR) — committed Oct. 26, 2023

Brian Rowe (WR) — committed April 9

Damarcus Leach (DB) — committed April 10

Anthony Addison (DE) — committed April 12

Caleb Williams (DE) — committed April 21

Jaquel Holman (ATH) — committed June 8

Kobby Sakyi-Prah (DE) — committed June 10

Chris Hatfield (DB/WR) — committed June 11

Preston Douglas (TE) — committed June 12

AJ Holloway (LB) — committed June 14

Shedrick Sarratt (OL) — committed June 14

Max Kelley (K) — committed June 15

Jaquavious Dodd (DL) — committed June 20

Kyler Farrow (LS) — committed June 22

Cutter Woods (QB) — committed June 24

Taeshawn Alston (DE) — committed June 25

Lex Cyrus (WR) — committed on July 11

Donvan Darden (DE/LB) — committed on July 15