Why new Gamecocks WR commitment Jordon Gidron is in a hurry to get college years started

Ridge View High School wide receiver Jordon Gidron shook up the recruiting landscape in South Carolina earlier this month when he announced a commitment to USC and a reclassification to 2025. He plans to sign in December and enroll in school in January in time for offseason workouts and spring practice.

But first things first for the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Gidron. He suffered a knee injury in a game on Sept. 7. He had surgery three days later and has been working ever since to get back in the lineup this season.

“It’s doing good,” Gidron said. “I got cleared to practice and I’ve been practicing, just trying to get back on it. It’s still a little tight, but I’m definitely going to try to be back by the playoffs at the latest. I’ve been able to sprint full speed and run routes, so it’s doing good.”

At least Gidron doesn’t have the non-stop pressure of recruiting to deal with while rehabbing the knee. With scholarship offers from nearly all the major programs, the process began to wear on him and his family. So he made the decision to end it.

“It just feels good just to be done with the process and the coaches, and I’m ready to chase my dreams,” Gidron said. “I think there’s an opportunity for me to get on the field at every receiver (position) at South Carolina. ... There’s probably going to be an opportunity for me to get on the field and have the opportunity to play early, and I just like the love (receivers) Coach (Mike) Furrey has been showing me, and that just convinced me to do it.”

It was one decision for Gidron to commit to the Gamecocks over the likes of Clemson, Tennessee, Georgia, Ole Miss, Alabama, Auburn, Miami, Duke, North Carolina, Florida State, N.C. State and LSU. It was another for him and his family to make the decision to skip his senior year of high school.

“It was something me and my family thought about,” Gidron said. “I think I’ve done everything I wanted to do in high school. I’ve been getting double-teamed a lot and it’s been hard to play and get better, so I just think it was the best for me to get to the next level.”

By starting his college career a year earlier than originally planned, Gidron will also have the opportunity to earn untold thousands of dollars from the university’s name, image and likeness (NIL) programs. No one would blame him for jumping at the opportunity to help take care of his family, but Gidron insists the money was never a factor in his decisions.

“No, not really,” Gidron said. “Just wanted to get better sooner, just get new coaching. I feel like I just couldn’t do what I wanted to do in high school.”

Gidron is excited about the opportunity to be coached by Furrey, who had a distinguished NFL career after signing as a free agent receiver.

“He said I’m just a good receiver that can help improve the program,” Gidron said. “We really haven’t talked about an exact position, but he just said it starts with a plan and he’s ready to coach me real hard.”

Gidron was the first of two talented in-state receivers to commit to the Gamecocks in a two-day period. After his announcement on a Friday, Rock Hill High’s Malik Clark followed suit the next day.

“Just another guy the other team has got to worry about,” Gidron said. “He’s a real good player. The more good players you have, the better your team is. I’m real happy about him coming to the Gamecocks.”

Another one of those good players Gidron would like to see join him at USC is Irmo receiver Donovan Murph, who reclassified from 2026 to 2025 a few days ahead of Gidron’s announcement.

“I’m trying to get him to come, too,” he said. “We’re trying to turn the program around. I talk to him sometimes. He’s still making his decision. He hasn’t really said much. He’s got a top 10 list, so those schools got a chance I guess.”

Gidron said he will play in the Under Armour All-American Game on Jan. 3 in Orlando. He was not selected for the Shrine Bowl team but said he would consider playing in the Touchstone Energy Bowl on Dec. 21 in Myrtle Beach if he’s selected when the rosters are announced Oct. 21.