Slaide Burd’s college route took a few turns, but the in-state utility player has landed where he wanted all along.
Burd, from Yemassee and Hilton Head Christian, is committed to South Carolina after first signing with Charleston Southern in November, then backing out of that pledge and committing to Stetson in June so he could play with his older brother. When Stetson went through a coaching change, South Carolina stepped in.
Now the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Burd will head up I-95 and then a short stretch on I-26 to start his college career in August instead of making the trip to Florida.
“The coaching staff is incredible. All of these new coaches reaching out, finding a way to fight for me and get me up there is a blessing,” Burd told Gamecock247 of his decision to play for South Carolina.
“I've always wanted to play there; it's a dream come true. I went to a couple of camps there when I was younger and always loved the field, loved the facilities.
But really the coaching staff, them believing in me, and me believing in them to develop me. It was hard to say no.”
South Carolina is getting a true all-around piece. Burd is mainly an outfielder, but he can also handle second base, third base and, if needed, shortstop. The Gamecocks view him as a utility option who could help sooner rather than later.
“They expect me to get in there rolling,” Burd said. “They know what I can do, they've seen what I can do and I know what I can do.
I'm just going to get in there, be me and not try to be someone I'm not, and show them what type of ball player I am. If I continue to do that and show myself this fall - they want my energy on the team and they expect me to get in there rolling and see how everything goes.”
Burd got a taste of older competition earlier this summer in the MLB Draft League, where most of the players were college draft prospects. Even with that age gap, he held his own.
The left-handed hitter finished with 43 at-bats and hit .209, but he also posted three doubles, one triple and seven RBIs. He drew 10 walks against 12 strikeouts and went 5-for-5 on stolen base attempts. In 19 games, he logged 12 in center field, six at third base and one in left field, finishing with a .708 OPS.
“Coaches say like my competitiveness,” Burd said. “My ultimate goal is to win, be a good teammate and go out there and have fun.
I'm fiery, energetic and like to get the crowd involved and entertain. But at the end of the day, I want to win.
That's the only thing I really want to do and I'm ready to get going.”
Burd becomes the fourth member of South Carolina’s 2026 recruiting class and the third position player, joining catcher Alain Gomez-Gudino and utility player Miles Keogh, who is more of an infielder.
In Other News...
Why South Carolina Fans Are Suddenly Debating This Beamer Hire
Kendal Briles arrived at South Carolina with a reputation for getting offenses moving, and that is exactly why his hire has stirred so much conversation around Columbia. After two seasons at TCU, where his unit produced more than 425 yards and 30 points per game, Briles comes in with the kind of track record that makes a coordinator addition feel bigger than a routine offseason move. Shane Beamer has already voiced optimism about what the scheme can do, and receiver Nyck Harbor has too, which only adds to the sense that this could be a meaningful reset for an offense looking for more consistency.
Greg McElroys praise at SEC Media Days only sharpened the debate, because the former Alabama quarterback and ESPN analyst framed Briles as one of the offseasons best hires. The appeal is easy to understand: a simpler system, a clearer fit for the personnel, and a chance to get more out of South Carolinas passing game. For fans, the real question is whether that promise shows up quickly enough to matter, and whether Briles can turn the optimism around LaNorris Sellers and the receivers into something more tangible once the season starts. [Read more 🡒]
Nyck Harbor Gave Gamecocks Fans A Stephen Garcia Moment To Cherish
South Carolina fans got a reminder this week that the Gamecock family still shows up in moments that matter. At SEC Media Days, Nyck Harbor shared a touching exchange with former quarterback Stephen Garcia, who is battling Stage 4 colorectal cancer and has been open about the toll of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Garcia, long a familiar and complicated figure in Columbia, has also been encouraged by the support pouring in from the community and beyond, including donations to a GoFundMe page started by his wife.
Garcia said the response has reached former teammates, fans and even people outside the program, a sign of how wide the circle has grown around him. He also noted that his next stretch of treatment is still ahead, with surgery part of the road to come, but the outpouring around him has already become its own kind of lift for a former Gamecock who once gave this fan base plenty to remember. [Read more 🡒]