5 Star California QB recruit officially pledged his committed to Shane Beamer after meeting with the young starlet
South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer spent some time golfing in Palm Springs, California, with former Gamecock star Wesley Bryan last week, but his trip wasn’t all about recreation. Recruiting was also on his agenda.
During his time in California, Beamer made a three-hour drive to Newbury Park to meet with quarterback Brady Smigiel, a Class of 2026 recruit and Florida State commit. South Carolina extended an offer to Smigiel in early January. Smigiel has ties to USC’s director of player personnel, Darren Uscher, who previously worked at UCLA. His father, Joe Smigiel, is the head coach at Newbury Park High and a former offensive lineman under Arizona’s legendary coach Dick Tomey.
The Smigiel family began exploring other options after Florida State head coach Mike Norvell replaced offensive coordinator Alex Atkins with Gus Malzahn. This led them to reconnect with Uscher and consider South Carolina.
“Brady’s committed to Florida State, but with the coaching changes, he just wants to make sure he’s in the right place,” Coach Smigiel explained. “We were intrigued by the hiring of Mike Shula, who has a pro-style approach to offense. After reviewing film with the South Carolina staff, we felt it was worth exploring.”
Beamer followed up with an in-person visit at Newbury Park, further demonstrating the Gamecocks’ interest.
“Coach Beamer showed great enthusiasm for Brady, and the relationship is evolving,” said Coach Smigiel. “We’re planning a visit to South Carolina this spring so Brady can see how their quarterback room operates. He’ll also revisit Florida State and potentially visit other schools like Washington, UCLA, Michigan, and Michigan State.”
Coach Smigiel emphasized that finding the right fit is more important than location, though Brady prefers not to take unnecessary trips.
As a junior, Smigiel was named Mr. Football in California after throwing for 3,521 yards and 49 touchdowns, bringing his career totals to 11,222 yards and 147 touchdowns. His dedication to improving his game, including better ball security and film study, has been key to his success.
While South Carolina is clearly interested, Smigiel’s commitment to Florida State, made last June, remains intact for now.
“He hasn’t decommitted,” Coach Smigiel said. “He initially hoped for consistency at his chosen school, but as things change, it’s important for both sides to evaluate whether it’s the right fit.”
South Carolina is also pursuing another 2026 quarterback, Jared Curtis from Nashville, who has scheduled an official visit with the Gamecocks in June.