South Carolina adds commitment from Georgia O-lineman

South Carolina added its eighth commitment in the 2022 class Saturday as the Gamecocks wrap up a busy June recruiting period.

Three-star offensive tackle Cason Henry announced his pledge to USC via Twitter. Henry is rated the No. 806 player in the 2022 class and the No. 76 offensive tackle per the 247Sports Composite rankings.

His pledge is one of six for Shane Beamer and South Carolina since Sunday, with three of those decisions still not public.

“I haven’t met coaches anywhere else that I clicked so well with,” Henry said. “Coach Beamer was the most approachable head coach that I’ve ever talked to. He struck me as a normal guy who is also a head coach. I went to Georgia, and Kirby Smart is like unapproachable. And Mike Leach (Mississippi State) is unapproachable. I feel like I can talk to Coach Beamer on a level of a normal human being while also respecting him as a head coach, which is a very unique blend I haven’t found anywhere else.”

The Walton High School standout chose the Gamecocks over an offer sheet that included West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Mississippi State, Pittsburgh, North Carolina, N.C. State and Michigan State, among others.

Henry becomes the second offensive lineman to choose the Gamecocks in the class after fellow Georgia product Grayson Mains became the second player to commit to Beamer’s staff in April.

Also working heavily into his decision was the playing opportunity he sees for himself with offensive line coach Greg Adkins and the Gamecocks.

“Coach Adkins said I have a good chance to play as a true freshman because they need tackles,” Henry said. “He said I’m physically developed enough to where I have a chance to play my freshman year. That struck me as an awesome opportunity to play SEC football as a true freshman. Not many people can do that. He said he needs tackles, he’s only recruiting tackles this year.”

South Carolina’s 2022 class ranked No. 39 nationally and No. 10 in the Southeastern Conference ahead of Henry’s commitment Saturday.

— Phil Kornblut contributed to this story

100% COMMITTED Thank you to @GamecockFB @WaltonRecruits @rledits24 pic.twitter.com/6MNPDTJRFx

— Cason Henry (@realcasonhenry) June 26, 2021

Had a great visit to The University of South Carolina! Thank you to @CoachG_Adkins @CoachSBeamer and the entire @GamecockFB staff for an awesome experience! @Mansell247 @RivalsJohnson @WaltonRecruits pic.twitter.com/H8MDNwRFjP

— Cason Henry (@realcasonhenry) June 25, 2021

South Carolina Class of 2022 Commitments

Braden Davis, QB

Grayson Mains, OT

Cason Henry, OT

Jamaal Whyce, DL

Donovan Westmoreland, LB

Peyton Williams, S

Kajuan Banks, S

Jy’Vonte McClendon, S

This story was originally published June 26, 2021 at 1:01 PM with the headline "South Carolina adds commitment from Georgia O-lineman."

Ben Portnoy

The State

Ben Portnoy is The State’s South Carolina Gamecocks football beat writer. He’s a 10-time Associated Press Sports Editors award honoree and has earned recognition from the Mississippi Press Association and the National Sports Media Association. Portnoy previously covered Mississippi State for the Columbus Commercial Dispatch and Indiana football for the Journal Gazette in Ft. Wayne, IN.