2028 DT Christian McGowan (6-5 270) of Jacksonville has long been a favorite of USC defensive line coach Travian Robertson. McGowan has camped at USC and made multiple game day visits. He is returning to Columbia Saturday for the Texas A&M game with his mind made up.
“Let’s just say at the end of the season, something might be happening,” McGowan said Thursday night. “I’m talking about after my playoffs. Probably sometime in January, no, probably December. It depends on just when we lose. If we lose. We’re not going to lose. I mean, when we win, state. When we raise that trophy. I’m liking South Carolina a lot. I’m liking it a lot. So, something’s definitely going to happen at the end of the season, definitely. It’s not really up in the air anymore. Let’s just say it’s like a 90% chance I commit South Carolina end of the season. Georgia is heavy on me like that too. But I prefer South Carolina. I’ll be real.”
That begs the question of why McGowan hasn’t already committed to the Gamecocks.
“The only reason why I’ve not committed to South Carolina is because they’re big on when you commit,” McGowan said. “If I commit now, I’m still going to have to go to other schools’ games and then it’s going to feel like I’m not really loyal to them, you know what I mean? I want them to know, when I commit, I’m committing for South Carolina. I’m still going to take OVs. That’s what I was talking to them about, too, my OVs, because I’m going to take my OVs just to experience them. That’s what my dad wants me to do.”
And a major reason McGowan is so strong on the Gamecocks is his feeling that Robertson and head coach Shane Beamer have been real with him throughout the recruiting process.
“I just really like how they appreciate me. All of them call me.,” McGowan said. “It’s not just coach T-Rob, it’s the other coaches too. They all call me and they make me feel like a part of the family. They do these group calls where I see all the defensive coaches, and I get to talk to Coach Beamer. I don’t get to do that with any other school. They’re the only school that shows that much love for me to want to go there. You can tell South Carolina wants me to go there. And, I don’t always just talk about football because I can ask him (Robertson) how he’s doing and all that stuff. So, it’s like an actual relationship that we’re building.”
From his view inside Williams-Brice Stadium as well as from his couch, McGowan has watched the Gamecock defensive front closely this season. He sees a group of guys improving by the week, and a group he can easily fit into.
“All of the D-linemen are good. And how they play them is great,” McGowan said. “Against Oklahoma, they played all their freshmen. So, you’re going to get a chance to rove yourself. And they have a true freshman starter right now, number 65. He’s a true freshman. He’s been balling out. 97. He came from Alabama. He’s balling out too. Dylan Stewart, 13. All of them are doing good. I watch all of them. When I watch college football, I’m not even going to lie, when I was at the other schools’ games, l was watching the South Carolina game with my phone. I’m not going to lie. I was kind of cheating on the team I was at. I watched South Carolina because I wanted to make sure the boys won. I love watching them play and watching them coach, and Coach Beamer coach. He’s a really good coach.”
And with the Gamecocks, McGowan is convinced he can add something positive to an already impressive room.
“My strength for sure. And just being able to be coachable,” he said. “I will end up fitting right in regardless of where I’m at. And I never give up. I’m never going to give up.”
Through the end of his regular season McGowan has around 30 total tackles with 12 tackles for loss, five sacks, and he has broken up six passes.
With no game Friday night, McGowan said he and his dad will drive into Columbia on Saturday morning for what will be his third game visit of the season with the Gamecocks.
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