South Carolina and Shane Beamer Make Finalists List for 5-Star EDGE

In the world of college football, rushing the passer is always a top priority, and that’s no different for South Carolina. The Gamecocks are currently pursuing one of the nation’s most highly regarded high school edge rushers.

Rodney Dunham, a 6-foot-4, 227-pound edge rusher from Charlotte, North Carolina, has narrowed his list of potential schools down to five. As reported by Hunter Sheldon of On3 Sports, Dunham is still considering South Carolina, Georgia, Duke, Tennessee, and Notre Dame.

Dunham, who On3 ranks as a 5-star prospect, is considered the No. 19 player overall and the No. 3 edge rusher in the class of 2026. Meanwhile, 247Sports’ composite rankings list him as a 4-star talent, the No. 33 overall player, and the No. 4 edge rusher in his class. Regardless of the ranking system, he is undoubtedly one of the top defensive players in high school football.

According to 247Sports, Dunham visited the South Carolina campus for an unofficial visit last fall. He’s also made three trips to Tennessee during his recruitment.

During the 2024 season, Dunham posted impressive stats, recording 39 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and five sacks. As a sophomore, he had 55 tackles, 15 for loss, and seven sacks.

South Carolina’s defense will need to fill a significant gap left by Kyle Kennard, who led the team with 11.5 sacks last season. Kennard earned All-American honors and was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year, but he is now out of eligibility, leaving a hole in the pass-rush department.

However, South Carolina is set to return Dylan Stewart, a star sophomore who recorded 6.5 sacks and 23 tackles as a true freshman. Stewart looks poised to be the next dominant pass rusher for the Gamecocks and will have two years left to play before entering the NFL Draft. Should Dunham choose South Carolina, his time in Columbia could overlap with Stewart’s.

As of now, the Gamecocks’ 2026 recruiting class includes five verbal commitments, with the class ranked 23rd nationally by 247Sports. One of the commits is Keenan Britt, a 3-star edge rusher from Alabama. Now, Gamecock fans are hoping their program can add one of the country’s top high school edge rushers to an already promising recruiting class.