Welcome home: 4-star recruit Monteque Rhames from Sumter commits to South Carolina
South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer has tweeted “#WelcomeHome” quite often this summer. On Saturday the Gamecocks reeled in yet another public commitment.
Sumter High defensive end Monteque Rhames, a four-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite rankings, announced his commitment to Beamer’s Gamecocks. Rhames became the the 12th public commitment added since June 1.
Rhames is a big win for USC, picking the Gamecocks over offers from a bevy of Power 5 programs, including Alabama, Georgia and Florida State. He’s the first defensive lineman in the class.
The rising senior was a frequent visitor to the football facilities this spring and summer. The Gamecocks were one of his early favorites and their continued strong pursuit led to his conclusion that playing for Shane Beamer and defensive ends coach Sterling Lucas was the move.
“They said I can be one of the best players to come out of USC,” Rhames said in an interview earlier this year. “(Lucas) has been on me since he got here, since his first day. He told me I would fit in good. He said he can’t wait to work with me. He likes the way I play, and he can get me right and ready for the next level.”
Last season at Sumter, Rhames posted 75 tackles, 20 1/2 tackles for loss and seven sacks in a dominant year.
He’s the fourth overall prospect in the state of South Carolina for the 2023 cycle, according to 247Sports Composite.
— Phil Kornblut contributed to this story.
This story was originally published July 30, 2022 at 7:06 PM with the headline "Welcome home: 4-star recruit Monteque Rhames from Sumter commits to South Carolina."
