In-state four-star Mazeo Bennett sets decision

On3 imageby:Wes Mitchell02/02/23

Wes Mitchell

South Carolina football fans won’t have to wait much longer to find out where Greenville (S.C.) class of 2024 four-star ATH Mazeo Bennett will be playing his college ball.

Listed as an “athlete” but being recruited as a wide receiver all the way, the long-time Gamecock target will announce his decision at noon on Friday, Feb. 3.

Bennett Tweeted that time and date on Thursday morning and Gamecock Central has since confirmed that the big-time playmaker is indeed referring to a commitment announcement.

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The 5-foot-11.5, 175-pound Bennett committed to Tennessee in October but decommitted from the Vols in December.

At the time of Bennett’s original commitment to Tennessee, his top eight also consisted of South Carolina, Alabama, Florida State, Oregon, North Carolina, Georgia and Miami.

He recently added Stanford and Michigan State to his schools of consideration but told On3 last week that the Gamecocks were on top.

“South Carolina was No. 1 for me for a good while after I decommitted from Tennessee,” Bennett told On3. “They still are.”

His offer list contains all of those schools and then some.

ALSO SEE: In his own words: Why Nyckoles Harbor chose the Gamecocks over 70 other schools

Though he’d be a wide receiver all the way for the Gamecocks, Bennett is ranked as an “athlete” on On3 due to his ability to excel at both receiver and cornerback.

The On3Consensus, which equally averages the ratings from all four of the major recruiting sites including On3, ranks Bennett as the No. 199 overall prospect, No. 20 “athlete” and No. 3 prospect in the state of South Carolina.

South Carolina wide receivers coach Justin Stepp offered Bennett in October of 2021 making South Carolina the first Power 5 school to offer the big-play receiver. He stayed the course even after the commitment to Tennessee.

The Gamecocks already have four four-star commitments in the 2024 class with the potential for Bennett to make five.

Quarterback Dante Reno committed to South Carolina last summer while offensive tackle Kam Pringle, tight end Michael Smith, and linebacker Wendell Gregory all pledged to the Gamecocks last month.

Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks have been on a historic recruiting tear, capping off their 2023 recruiting class on Wednesday with the addition of Washington (D.C.) Archbishop Carroll five-star ATH Nyckoles Harbor.

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