South Carolina · SECSkylar Alston keeps South Carolina in his top 10
The four-star linebacker included the Gamecocks among 10 schools but has not announced visits or a commitment timeline.
SEP 24, 2026
Four-star linebacker Skylar Alston cut his recruitment to 10 schools, including South Carolina.
Alston included the Gamecocks and said, “I can see myself developing.” South Carolina remains in contention for a future addition to its defense, but Alston’s list does not change the current roster or establish the Gamecocks’ position in the race.
The other nine schools have not been identified. Alston also has not announced a commitment timeline or whether he has scheduled or completed an official visit to South Carolina.
For South Carolina, the list is a recruiting opportunity rather than a roster decision. The Gamecocks have interest to build on, not a pledge to count.
01 · The Detail Beneath the HeadlineWhat Most People Are Missing
Alston’s development comment arrives against a South Carolina program trying to change the record recruits can measure. The Gamecocks went 4-8 and 1-7 in the SEC in 2025; their 2-1 start in 2026 includes two wins over Kent State and Towson followed by a 41-34 loss to Mississippi State.
The schedule now gives that pitch a sharper test. South Carolina visits Alabama on Sept. 26, then plays Kentucky on Oct. 3 and travels to Florida on Oct. 10 before facing Tennessee on Oct. 24 and Oklahoma on Oct. 31. Those five games can provide a more useful comparison with 2025, but they do not clarify Alston’s recruitment. His list still leaves South Carolina competing with nine unidentified programs, so the meaningful step is not making the cut; it is turning his interest in development into a visit and a defined place among those 10 schools.
02 · The Open QuestionsQuestions to Be Answered
Which nine schools are competing with South Carolina for Alston?
The full list would show whether South Carolina is battling mostly SEC programs, schools from outside the conference or some other mix, and it would give the Gamecocks’ inclusion needed context. A public list of all 10 schools is the tell: until Alston identifies the other nine, there is no supported comparison of South Carolina’s place in his recruitment.
When will Alston visit South Carolina and make his decision?
A scheduled official visit would move the recruitment beyond a broad list and give South Carolina a specific opportunity to build on Alston’s development comment. A commitment date would also establish how much of the Gamecocks’ 2026 season he can evaluate before deciding. The answers will come through an announced visit plan, a decision timeline or both; Alston has provided neither.