Head Coach Shane Beamer tweeted out a #welcomehome on July 4th, and it seems it was South Gwinnett High School LB Jaiden Braker. Braker took an official visit to South Carolina on May 31st, along with a dozen other 2025 prospects.

South Carolina has a history now of finding LBs with good size and skill attributes early in the process and having them blow up a bit later, as we've seen in the past with Nick Emmanwori and last year with Fred "JayR" Johnson, both of which started as 3-star but were 4-stars in the final rankings.

Time will tell if Braker is another diamond in the rough for Clayton White, Sterling Lucas, and the staff. Braker's recruitment has picked up a bit lately, with the Gamecocks offering back in April, joining Cinncinatti, West Virginia, NC State, Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Utah, Rutgers, and more.

He took official visits this summer to Rutgers, Utah, NC State, and Kentucky, along with South Carolina, before locking in his decision.

The 6'4" 210 LB Junior has played both OLB and DE in his high school career, and that diversity of experience will come in handy as he fills out his frame at the next level, where perhaps he could play with his hand in the dirt eventually.

As a junior, Braker was credited with 48 tackles across 9 games including 4 TFLs. His film shows good instincts and a nose for the football, but an athleticism that had him playing WR at times at South Gwinnett.

There are only a few high school targets left in the 2025 class, which I broke down here, but it's good to get a prospect with the upside of Braker in the boat from the Peach State.