The off-season is underway for Shane Beamer and The Gamecocks. In this series I’ll be reviewing the big name recruits and transfers who could come in and make an instant impact.
First up, 4 star All-American linebacker Stone Blanton.
COMMITTED‼️Go Gamecocks #TheOnlyWayIsThrough @UAFootball @GamecockFB @GamecockBasebll @CoachSBeamer @CoachClaytonW @CoachKingUSC @SWiltfong247 @adamgorney @JohnGarcia_Jr @HamiltonESPN @HaleMcGranahan @GamecockCentral @Mike_Uva @DemetricDWarren @mrafootball pic.twitter.com/bfX2de7V2I
— Stone Blanton (@Stoneblanton7) December 13, 2021
Blanton is a 6’2” 220 lbs and from Mississippi. The Gamecocks played the long game with Blanton, having his visit all the way back on June 11th, 2021 and they won.
Mississippi State, who was thought to be the favorite for Blanton, came into early signing day as the favorite to land him. However, Clayton White and Shane Beamer swept in and flipped him.
Skills
If you watch a single second of Blanton’s game, you can see he is an absolute mauler. He hits like a freight train in the open field.
Blanton has great field vision and is clearly a great communicator on the field.
Clearly, Blanton has all the talent in the world, but will he have an instant impact? Well that’s up for debate.
What Will His Role Be This Upcoming Season?
In my opinion, Blanton will have an immediate impact. Linebacker isn’t the deepest position for the Gamecocks.
If Blanton has a good summer camp in Columbia, he could find himself in a starting role. Blanton is also an all-state outfielder in baseball so in 2022 he could have an impact on the diamond as well.
Conclusion
All in all, Gamecock fans will know the name Stone Blanton. The hard hitting middle linebacker who hits just as hard at the plate will be a force on the defensive side of the ball in Clayton White’s schema.
Stone Blanton is going to be very good for the Gamecocks. How soon will that be? If I was a betting man, I’d bet sooner rather than later.