Darius Gray, the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in the 2026 class, has made his college decision. Gray committed to South Carolina on Friday night, choosing the Gamecocks over LSU, Tennessee, Clemson, and Ohio State.
All five programs were technically finalists, but earlier this week, reports indicated that Gray was deciding between South Carolina and LSU. In the end, head coach Shane Beamer lands his first five-star recruit of the 2026 class. It's also a miss that stings Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers.
Kelly's pitch wasn't enough for LSU to land Gray
Gray is rated by 247Sports as the No. 16 overall player in the 2026 class. He possesses a 6-foot-3, 285-pound frame, and was described by 247Sports College Football analyst Smoke Dixon as playing with a "nasty disposition." Furthermore, his great leg drive and athleticism will present problems for South Carolina opponents in the upcoming years.
Brian Kelly takes pride in his proven track record of producing elite offensive linemen. Kelly has coached five offensive linemen that have become first round draft picks, most recently with Will Campbell going No. 4 overall to the New England Patriots in the 2025 NFL Draft. Yet, Kelly's pitch wasn't enough.
Instead, Gray will head to Columbia after wrapping up his senior season at the St. Christopher's School in Richmond, VA. The Gamecocks now have 15 commits for 2026, with Gray being the second on the offensive line.
For 2026, LSU has offensive line commits from four-star Brysten Martinez, four-star Emanuel Tucker, three-star Bryson Cooley, and three-star Jalan Chapman. Martinez is the highest-ranked OL commit, coming in as the No. 113 overall player in the 2026 class via 247Sports. Getting Gray would have been massive for LSU, but now Kelly and his staff will continue looking to bolster the Tiger offensive line for next season.