“This really feels like home”: Auburn star K.J. Britt’s brother Keenan Britt commits to South Carolina over Auburn, Arkansas, Ole Miss and Oregon

By Maliha

Modified Aug 11, 2024 10:54 GMT

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Four-star linebacker Keenan Britt from Oxford High School in Alabama committed to South Carolina's 2026 class. He announced his commitment on Saturday, choosing the program over Oregon, Ole Miss, Auburn and Arkansas.

The Gamecocks made their official offer to Britt earlier this summer, and he visited Columbia at the end of last month.

“I’ve always liked South Carolina, but I was just like, I’ve got to get up there. When I went up there, I was like, this really feels like home,” Colton said (via Gamecock Central).

Coach Shane Beamer and new South Carolina Director of Player Personnel and Recruiting Darren Uscher played crucial roles in securing Keenan Britt's commitment.

"I pay attention to a lot of stuff and they have a good group coming up," Britt told Rivals. "They're young over there and they've got a good program over there in South Carolina."

Oregon made a strong push for 6-foot-2, 230-pound Britt after evaluating him in person at a satellite camp, making it clear that he was a high-priority target for its 2026 class. Uscher, who had previously evaluated Britt while at Oregon, leveraged his familiarity with the prospect to ensure South Carolina remained a top contender in the recruitment battle.

Even Auburn was projected to be a strong contender to earn Keenan Britt's pledge. His older brother, K.J. Britt, was a linebacker at Auburn from 2017 to 2020 and currently plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL.

The Britt family's history with Auburn initially positioned the Tigers as the favorites to land his commitment. The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine had Auburn with a 68.2% chance of securing Keenan, while South Carolina's odds were considerably lower at 10.8%. But the Gamecocks' persistence ultimately swayed his decision.

What does Keenan Britt's commitment mean to South Carolina?

Keenan Britt has now become the third commitment in the Gamecocks’ 2026 class, joining four-star linebacker Rodney Colton and three-star interior offensive lineman Anthony Baxter. He is primarily recognized as an edge rusher by recruiting analysts, but South Carolina envisions him as a versatile linebacker.

Britt led Oxford to a 9-3 season as well as the second round of the Class 6A football playoffs. He recorded 107 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 20 quarterback hits, eight sacks and two caused fumbles during his sophomore season.

Keenan Britt is ranked as the No. 35 edge rusher in the 2026 class and the No. 15 prospect in Alabama by the On3. 247Sports places him as the No. 26 edge rusher in the 2026 class and the No. 12 prospect in the state. He also earned the accolade of being a second-team honoree on the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s all-state football team in Class 6A.