South Carolina lands one of the most interesting commitments of the year

AP Photo/Alastair Grant

By Chris Marler

Spurs up. That’s the rally cry for South Carolina fans in Columbia, on social media and everywhere in between about their beloved Gamecocks.

They may have to get a new saying and hashtag trending though – spuds up.

That’s thanks to the huge, literally and figuratively, commitment they received this weekend from Irish rugby player, Neff Giwa. Giwa, a rugby and former soccer player, has unexpectedly become a viral recruiting cult figure in recent weeks as clips of his athleticism and reports of his measurables spread across social media..

This is Neff Giwa from Tipperary, and he’s going to play in the NFL some day. pic.twitter.com/abArLQ2pI9

— Jimmy English (@thejimmyenglish) March 26, 2026

Giwa is 6-foot-8 and 300 pounds. He has a wingspan of 84 inches and 37 inch arms. He was clocked in the 40 at 4.88 seconds. He’s a unicorn.

More specifically, he’s a unicorn that’s never played a down of football in his life.

That didn’t stop the salivating from several different staffs all around Power Four. Giwa committed to South Carolina on Sunday after receiving offers from Clemson, UNC, Tennessee and Miami. He will arrive on campus in late May and will be eligible this upcoming season. That’s big news for a South Carolina team that is desperately seeking help up front after surrendering over 40 sacks in each of the last three seasons.

Neff Giwa from Cashel, Co Tipperary is a 6-8 1/2, 300-pound rugby player with 37-inch arms who can run a 4.88 40 yard dash.

He hasn’t played a down of football and is already a significant prospect in college football – committing with South Carolina on Sunday.

Congrats,… pic.twitter.com/2FS0HSvmhT

— Michael McQuaid (@McQuaidNFL) March 30, 2026

For Shane Beamer, it’s not the first international player on his current roster. One of the most impactful players on last year’s team was German born, Alabama transfer Justin Okoronkwo who finished the season tied for the lead in tackles. It’s also a growing trend in college football with reports showing around 369 international born players at the Division I, II and III levels in college football. The number of FBS level players more than doubled over the last ten years from 118 to 269.

There’s no telling how Giwa will fully grasp the sport, but the excitement and interest of football overseas is no longer just on a pitch. It’s coming to an SEC stadium near you more and more.