South Carolina continues to make moves on the quarterback recruiting front, this time extending an offer to one of the top arms in the 2028 class. Kaden Craft, a four-star signal-caller out of Lake Norman High School in North Carolina, announced Wednesday that he’s officially on the Gamecocks’ radar.
Craft, ranked as the No. 6 quarterback in his class and the No. 77 overall prospect nationally, shared the news following a conversation with South Carolina’s director of player personnel and recruiting, Darren Uscher, along with new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles.
This isn’t the first time Craft has been on South Carolina’s campus-he visited Columbia for the Gamecocks’ matchup against Alabama this past season. That visit clearly left an impression, and now, with Briles leading the offensive vision, the Gamecocks are taking a closer look at the future of their quarterback room.
Let’s talk about what Craft brings to the table. As a sophomore, he completed 60 percent of his passes for 1,739 yards, tossing 17 touchdowns against just four interceptions.
On the ground, he added another layer to his game, rushing for 387 yards and 13 scores. That kind of dual-threat production is exactly what modern offenses are built around-especially in the SEC, where defenses are fast and aggressive, and quarterbacks need to be able to extend plays and make things happen outside the pocket.
His freshman year showed flashes of what was coming. Craft threw for 1,171 yards with 13 touchdowns, though he also had 12 interceptions-growing pains that aren’t uncommon for a young quarterback adjusting to the speed of the varsity game.
Still, he completed 59 percent of his passes and chipped in 266 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The raw tools were there, and his sophomore leap suggests he’s starting to put it all together.
Craft is the latest in a growing list of quarterbacks South Carolina has offered in the 2028 cycle. During Mike Shula’s tenure as offensive coordinator, the Gamecocks extended offers to Neimann Lawrence out of Plantation, Florida, and Brady Quinn from Hollywood, Florida. Since Briles took over the offense last month, he’s hit the ground running, offering 2027 Arizona State commit Weston Nielsen (Bastrop, Texas) and 2027 TCU pledge Jerry Meyer III (Waxahachie, Texas).
Briles’ approach is clear-identify and pursue quarterbacks who can thrive in a system that values mobility, quick decision-making, and vertical passing threats. Craft fits that mold.
He’s got the arm talent, the athleticism, and the production to back it up. It’s early in the 2028 recruiting cycle, but South Carolina is planting its flag with Craft, hoping to build a relationship that could pay off down the line.
For now, it’s just an offer. But in the world of college football recruiting, especially at the quarterback position, early attention matters. And with Craft’s stock continuing to rise, the Gamecocks are making sure they’re in the conversation.