Taeshawn Alston

Introduction: Welcome Taeshawn Alston, a three-star edge ranked No. 9 in North Carolina by 247Sports, primed to bring his small-town tenacity to South Carolina’s SEC battlegrounds. He compiled a career stat line over 3 seasons that reads like a defensive coordinator’s dream: 148 tackles, 31.5 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, and six forced fumbles, with each season building on the last. By 2023, his junior year, Alston had hit his stride leading Vance County to a 10-1 record with the season ultimately coming to an end in the third round of the state playoffs, his double digit sacks and tackles for loss anchored that defense. This was his first year he wasn’t tethered to the line as coach Aaron Elliott unleashed him as an occasional off-ball linebacker where his instincts were put on full display as he sniffed out run fits and screen passes. Stacking tackles with a linebacker’s range skills Clayton White now eyes for the Gamecocks’ hybrid schemes. The 2024 senior campaign added another chapter to Alston’s lore, his final stat haul of 38 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery over 11 games was more than impressive which ultimately led to his shrine bowl invite. He also starred in baseball, basketball, and on the track as well. Clocking in an impressive 11.75 second 100-meter dash as a sophomore which led to him having a flair for special teams collecting 2 kickoff return touchdowns. Hopefully this is just a preview of the havoc he’ll bring to South Carolina.

Recruiting: His first nibbles came from the Group of 5 tier in spring 2023 as NC Central tossed an offer his way, followed by NC A&T and Richmond, small-time programs sniffing out the talented multi-sport athlete. By late 2023, the Power 5 sharks circled, and South Carolina was among the first to bite. An offer was officially extended before Alston’s junior season wrapped as the staff loved what they saw on film. South Carolina invited Alston to their Junior Day on January 20, his first big recruiting trip and Beamer’s crew didn’t miss. The seed had been planted amid a growing list that hit double digits by spring. Then came June 2 2024 the official visit, Alston’s first of the cycle. They dazzled him with a culture pitch that stuck. “The fan base and the facilities,” he raved to On3, floored by Williams-Brice’s roar (me too). White preached to him how he would fit perfectly in his scheme as a guy they can deploy as a hybrid off ball linebacker/edge combo, “edge some, linebacker some” he would tell him. Beamer's personal touch and the defensive staff's constant communication following that visit sealed the deal from a visit where he left with “high reviews”. On June 25, flanked by family in Vance County gear, Alston made it official and picked South Carolina, “The atmosphere and culture it feels like home, people I can call family.” While plenty of big dogs tried to get him to flip before signing day in December, Alston was having none of it and stayed locked in with the Garnet and Black.

Strength and Skills: Taeshawn Alston brings a prototype frame to South Carolina’s defense, standing at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, a lean, wiry build with a frame that's nowhere near filled out to its potential. South Carolina’s staff sees him bulking to 230-plus pounds, adding linebacker heft without dulling his edge zip. That length and burst combo gives him a rare radius long enough to bat down passes at the line, quick enough to chase down plays sideline-to-sideline. He fires off the snap with a twitchy burst, dipping his shoulder to bend the edge, then finishes with a bull rush that collapses pockets inward. On3’s Chad Simmons noted his Shrine Bowl explosion: “quick and strong off the snap,” a unique blend of speed-to-power. Though his pass-rush arsenal is explosive, could benefit from adding a wider variety of moves (swim or spin) to consistently shed the SEC’s mammoth offensive tackles. In 2024 when Vance County slid him inside he’d shoot gaps with uncanny timing, reading backfield cues (hip drop, QB eyes) to snuff out runs pre-snap, a football IQ many in the industry labeled as “high-end”. A rangy predator with long strides that eat up space, and his tackling (rarely misses) wraps low and drives through, a foundation White can polish into a three-down asset. His coverage flashes upside with his reach, wingspan, and basketball hops. Just wait till he gets an offseason in the strength/nutrition program to pack muscle onto his 6-foot-4 frame.