Jernard Albright knew early that South Carolina was different.

The 2027 four-star safety out of Springfield (Ga.) Effingham County, ranked No. 120 overall in the Rivals300, has close to 20 offers, but he shut things down early after committing to Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks on Christmas Day.

From the moment the offer came, South Carolina made Albright feel like a priority.

“As soon as they offered, they saw the potential in me,” Albright told Rivals. “They made me feel wanted and they showed mad love. I honestly didn’t know a lot about South Carolina right when they offered, but once I started researching the school, Coach Torian Gray, and the players that have come out of there, I started to look at them a lot differently.”

Torrian Gray, South Carolina’s defensive backs coach, has been the biggest factor in Albright’s decision and remains the foundation of his commitment.

“Coach Gray is a great coach who can make dreams come true with the NFL. He has great history and has coached great players. He’s very transparent, he is always real, and he really wants to make his players better.

“He’s gotten to know me, stayed in touch with my mom, and he’s just a great guy.”

Albright’s visits to Columbia only reinforced that feeling. His first trip came early in the season for the Kentucky game, and it left a lasting impression. A return visit for the Clemson game sealed it.

“I loved everything about that visit,” he said. “I felt the love, met some of the players, and the atmosphere was great. When I went back for the Clemson game, I knew that was where I wanted to be.”

Albright is excited about calling Columbia home

The environment around the program continues to stand out.

“I love the coaches. The staff keeps the players believing and staying positive. Coach Shane Beamer is a very cool guy, and like Coach Gray, he’s very transparent. He keeps the players’ spirits high, and I believe he’ll get South Carolina back next season.

Albright ultimately chose South Carolina over finalists Texas A&M and Georgia Tech, and he remains confident in that decision.

“What I really love about South Carolina is the fans, the atmosphere, the defensive coaching staff, the love, and what Coach Beamer is about,” he said.

OPA LOCKA, Fla. — Sunday brought forth several of the top 2026 high school football players attending schools from Miami-Dade and Broward County in the second annual Dade Vs. Broward Game presented by Adidas and the social media platform 305 Sports.

It was the last opportunity for many to showcase their talent to friends, family, and peers at Traz Powell Stadium. Dade defeated Broward 27-6. Here are some of the top talents that were on display.

Overall MVP – Kevin White Jr.

The three-star-rated cornerback out of Miami Palmetto hauled in two interceptions in the game on Sunday and has a knack for locating the football when airborne.

The former Toledo commit should be a solid contributor on the FBS level.

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Quarterback MVP – Anthony McQueen

The Miami Central quarterback started the scoring with a 30-yard TD pass to Purdue signee Brandon Kinsey on his first play from scrimmage. He then went on to throw two more touchdown passes in the game, which made him a runaway for the QB MVP award.

He ended his night with a 38-yard touchdown strike to Savannah State commit Damani Downs.

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RB MVP – Jayden Ford

The FIU signee was electric in the passing game, catching multiple passes for big chunk yards. He is a nightmare to tackle in space and is always a threat to take it the distance with the ball in his hands.

“Mook” should continue to make highlight plays in Dade County.

WR MVP – Malik Penson

Another FIU commit made a difference for Team Dade. Penson scored the second touchdown of the evening from McQueen and was consistently open on over-the-middle and sideline routes.

OL MVPs – Shermari Bowens, Anthony Bell

Bowens, a Florida A&M signee, was one of the most consistent offensive linemen in practice and in the game. The 6-foot-4, near 300-pounder can play multiple positions on the offensive line.

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Bell has quick feet and can move very well at 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds. He consistently locked up defenders in the passing game and mauled in the running game. The FAMU commit is a player who will push for playing time on the next level.

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Interior DL MVPs – Roderick McFadden, Miguel Martinez

McFadden is a consistent people mover who clogs the middle and penetrates the line, causing disruption. He remains uncommitted but holds offers from Bethune, FIU, FAU, Western Kentucky, and Wofford.

Martinez, who plays with a high motor, bulldozed his way through to get a blocked punt and was constantly in the backfield, causing havoc. The 6-foot-3, 270-pound defensive lineman holds an offer from Temple.

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Edge MVP – RJ Alphonse

The Chaminade-Madonna edge signed with Eastern Michigan, and the Eagles should be excited to gain the South Florida talent to their roster.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound edge was disruptive every time he stepped on the field and could develop into a high-level college football player in the future.

Linebacker MVPs – Cleveland Gary, Tyrel Snelling

Both Gary and Snelling made critical tackles in the game and often were in the right place at the right time.

Gary, at 6-feet, 210 pounds, committed to Bryant University in September. The talent from Monsignor Pace is a physical tackler who can move from sideline to sideline.

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Miami Booker T. Washington backer, Snelling, is relentless in his pursuit of the football and has great bend to maneuver around blockers.

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DB MVP – Tedrick Lee

The three-star rated safety from Columbus was a solid tackler in the Dade vs. Broward game. He made multiple tackles for loss and demonstrated his physicality both inside and outside the tackles.

He holds Power Four offers from Arkansas, Louisville, Mississippi State, Nebraska, and UCF.

Honorable Mention

QB Gary Hadley Jr. (30-yard touchdown run)

QB Kymani Corbett (2-yard TD pass)

QB Brandin Mincy

RB Travis Gamble

RB Morris Choice

RB Daquon Adderley

WR Brandon Kinsey (TD reception)

WR John Jones (2-yard TD reception)

WR Jamal Cooper

WR Santana Carlos

DB Marko Fernandez

Edge DeMarcus King Jr.

Edge Michael Harris

Edge Terrell Evans

One of the top running backs in the 2027 cycle is narrowing his list of top schools.

Baylor School (Tenn.) five-star RB David Gabriel Georges told Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett on Monday evening that he’s down to eight programs: Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Texas.

Gabriel Georges, a Quebec, Canada native, is the No. 20 overall prospect and No. 2 RB in the 2027 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the top-ranked junior in Tennessee.

The 6-foot, 205-pounder is coming off a monster junior campaign for one of the top high school programs in Tennessee. Baylor School won a state title and Gabriel Georges entered the championship game with 25 touchdowns and over 1,600 yards on the ground.

In the Tennessee Division II Class 3A semifinals against McCallie, the five-star carried 32 times for 431 yards and seven touchdowns. The meteoric performance set the table for a big state title victory the following week over Brentwood Academy.

“Everyone was focused… it felt like something great was going to happen,” Gabriel-Georges told Rivals. “We had a good week of preparation. The team worked hard in the weight room and on the field. We knew we were ready for that game and the offensive line was great. They blocked like crazy and the whole team went out and executed.”

He’s acquired offers from just about every high-profile college program in the nation and is working closer to a decision. Ohio State currently has the edge in the Rivals Recruiting Prediction Machine.

Gabriel Georges talks top schools

When speaking with Rivals’ Chad Simmons this fall, Gabriel Georges gave some insight into his recruitment and talked about some of the schools that made his top eight on Monday evening:

Georgia: “I like Georgia’s culture. From the weight room to practice to the game — it’s all about work and getting better. I like what they do there and how they do it.”

Ohio State: “Coach Locklyn is someone I can really learn from. He’s a great coach and he knows how to develop running backs. He’s easy to talk to and I like what he is about.”

Tennessee: “The environment and the coaches really make me like Tennessee. It’s a great school with great people. My mom, dad, aunt, and uncle saw it and they liked it a lot too. The coaches are the main thing for me — they’ve done a great job with me and my family.”

“I’m going to take my time. I will take my official visits before I make any kind of decision.”