Top in-state OL target Kam Pringle sees two of his top schools battle in rivalry game

Kam Pringle poses with Dabo Swinney and Thomas Austin during a visit.

by Nikki Hood - Staff Writer - Wed Nov 30 18:12:02 GMT-04:00 2022

Kam Pringle is considering both Clemson and South Carolina, and he watched the two schools battle it out on the football field last week.

Clemson hosted a bevy of top prospects last Saturday for the South Carolina game. Some were there just to check out the Tigers, but some were also there to watch both teams since they are being recruited by the rivals. One of those was 2024 Woodland OT Kam Pringle. He has the Tigers and Gamecocks high up on his list, and both Dabo Swinney and Shane Beamer are heavily involved in recruiting him.

“It was definitely an eye opener with Carolina pulling off the upset against Clemson,” Pringle said. “It was definitely great for South Carolina. Of course, Clemson didn’t get the outcome they were looking for. It really just shows you where Coach Beamer is taking the program. Beating three top 25 teams this season, actually blowing out a top ten team in the country, it just shows you what Coach Beamer is stepping towards, what he can do and what he is capable of.”

The common thought in the recruiting world, when it comes to rivalry games, is the winner really benefits and the loser takes a step back with a recruit. Pringle, however, doesn’t see it that way.

“You can’t really hold nothing against a team over one loss,” Pringle said. “Definitely tip the hat towards Carolina with the win, just displaying what they are capable of the past couple of weeks. Clemson, there’s definitely no love lost. They’ve just got to get better. You have those type of games where you just don’t come up with the win. I think that was a 40-game home win streak. It’s not like they are used to losing like that on their own field, it just played in South Carolina’s favor.”

Of course, there was some recruiting of Pringle going on by Swinney and offensive line coach Thomas Austin while he was there for a second visit on the season. He also was in for the NC State game.

“I talked to Coach Swinney a little bit, but I talked to Coach Austin mainly before the game for a good little while,” Pringle said. “I was in the locker room for Coach Swinney’s speech after, it was kind of more of appreciate you for coming today rather than a sit-down talk thing after the game.”

The message Swinney and Austin had for Pringle was clear.

“Definitely the opportunity for me to come and play,” Pringle said. “Just telling me what they can do for me development-wise and where I can come in and play a role there. And the development they have. They have the best offensive left tackle in the ACC right now with Jordan McFadden. They are definitely at the development standpoint there with Coach Austin and the whole O-line room. Coach Swinney has sent multiple guys to the NFL and has developed guys to be top-notch players.”

Pringle also made it to South Carolina for two games this season, Georgia and Tennessee. The message he gets from Beamer is along the same lines as what he’s getting from Swinney.

“Where I can come in and play. They feel I have the skillset to change the program,” Pringle said. “Me and other top recruits come in and change things around. They are having a really good ’23 recruiting class, so they are looking for the same thing in ’24.”

Pringle is now transitioning into basketball season, but he plans to give his commitment decision a lot of thought over the next few months.

“Evaluate. Take visits and evaluate the process,” Pringle said. “Slim it down. I was thinking about going top eight and then top five, but I’ll probably just go with a top six and decide off of those six. I’ll probably cut the list before the end of the year. Commitment, probably January or February. There are a couple of top programs, a top five or six, but I wouldn’t say there’s a No. 1. Everybody is doing a good job. I’m not just there yet.”

Pringle named a top ten in a few weeks ago of South Carolina, Clemson, Virginia, NC State, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Ohio State, Auburn and LSU. He said he will visit schools when he can over the next several weeks for bowl practices and junior days. He definitely wants to get to Florida to meet that staff for the first time. He also plans to get back to South Carolina, Clemson, NC State, Tennessee and Georgia.