In recruiting, you’re never safe—a top commit can flip on you in a heartbeat. South Carolina knows this story all too well. The Gamecocks once had a gem in their hands: a top-10 quarterback from Jackson, Alabama. He committed in August 2023. But now? After decommitting from them in June 2024, he’s back on the market, and now it’s anyone’s game. However, South Carolina isn’t backing down. Landing a talent like him in the QB room would be huge, especially with LaNorris Sellers possibly leaving next season. That’s why OC Mike Shula just swung by for an in-home visit, trying to get things going again. This one has been a top priority from day one. Now, they’re all in to win him back.

The race for Landon Duckworth is heating up—and fast. The top-10 QB is no longer flying under the radar. Since backing off his South Carolina pledge, the offers haven’t stopped rolling in. Georgia. Ole Miss. All knocking. But it’s Auburn—the home-state squad—that’s secured the golden ticket: an official visit. That’s big. However, Duckworth has leaned out-of-state for most of his journey. Now? The tide may be shifting. With his recruitment narrowing, SEC and ACC powerhouses are officially on high alert. The battle is on—and Duckworth holds all the cards.

Now, Landon Duckworth has made his move—and it’s turning heads. The four-star gunslinger just dropped his official visit schedule, with Auburn getting the first shot on May 16. Georgia was expected to be in the mix, but surprise—no Bulldogs in his top five, likely because they secured their 2026 quarterback gem, Jared Curtis. According to On3 Recruits, Duckworth’s final contenders are Auburn, Ole Miss, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida State. The top 5 list is set.

But it’s no mystery why SEC and ACC giants are all-in on Landon Duckworth. The Jackson High star is a stat machine. Last season, he lit up defenses for 3,439 passing yards and 31 TDs. And he wasn’t just a threat through the air—he ran for 648 yards and tacked on 12 more scores. Every game? At least 100 total yards. However, ten of those were over 200. And his highlight reels are wild. On top of that, Duckworth exploded for 579 yards against Mobile Christian. Then dropped 347 more in the state title game versus Cherokee County. Simply put, he’s electric, and everybody wants him.

However, the numbers are in—and Ole Miss is out front. According to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, the Rebels lead the race for Landon Duckworth with a 51% chance to land the star QB. Right behind? South Carolina, holding strong at 44%. After that, the gap is wide. Auburn trails at 1.9%, while Florida State and Georgia sit under 1%. Now, with Georgia out of the top five, it’s shaping up to be a three-team battle at the top—Ole Miss, South Carolina, and Auburn. But the race for Duckworth won’t be easy—his official visits could completely rewrite the script before any decision is made.

Landon Duckworth’s OV schedule

Ranked as the No. 6 quarterback in the 2026 class by On3 Industry, Landon Duckworth is gearing up for a crucial stretch. His official visit schedule is locked in—and it’s loaded. First stop: Auburn on May 16. Then it’s Georgia on May 30, South Carolina on June 6, Florida State on June 13, and Ole Miss on June 20. Five big visits. And Duckworth’s summer tour could shake up the recruiting world.

He told On3’s Chad Simmons last month (before Georgia dropped off), “There are some other schools I am looking at, but Ole Miss, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida State are the main schools I am focused on right now. All of those are talking to me a lot, they want me to visit in the spring and I am planning to take official visits to all four….What’s important to me is the atmosphere at the school, the way the coaches treat me, how the offensive is and the background of the coaches and their development.”

But according to his top 5, Bill Belichick’s UNC is still very much in the mix. Belichick’s 2026 class is quietly stacking talent—and fast. Boasting star playmakers like Justin Lewis and Marcellous Ryan among their 14 commits, the class currently ranks No. 5 in the ACC and 30th nationally. But landing Landon Duckworth? That could send it soaring. The elite QB has already made a campus visit, and his interest is very real.

He is a true specimen of a quarterback—not to mention a basketball standout fresh off a state championship—it’s clear why he’s considered one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the country. Well, a QB with that kind of athleticism? Every coach in America wants him. But for the Gamecocks, as they try to get him back in the fold, they’ve got serious competition from other top Southeast programs all pushing hard. Now it’s all on Landon Duckworth to decide where feels like home and which program fits best for his collegiate career.