South Carolina football: Gamecocks linked to 4 of top 50 transfers

South Carolina football is tied to some big name transfers.

The South Carolina football roster has experienced a ton of turnover in its transition from former head coach Will Muschamp to new leader Shane Beamer. The Gamecocks saw a number of players opt to leave the program in search of new college homes, and in turn, filled those voids by scouring the NCAA transfer portal.

Last week, Max Olson and Bruce Feldman of The Athletic did their best to rank the top 50 transfers in college football ahead of the 2021 season, with four of those movers having some sort of connection to the South Carolina program.

First on the list was edge defender Jordan Strachan, who makes his way to Columbia following a three-year stint with Georgia State. Strachan, who began his career as a walk-on safety, moved to linebacker after putting on some weight in college. The transition was a good one, as the pass rusher tallied a nation-leading 10.5 sacks last year on his way to all-conference honors.

Strachan was ranked No. 27 on the list. It looks like he’ll play with his hand in the ground at South Carolina, and he projects to add immediate help along the front four in the new defensive scheme. Coordinator Clayton White likes to employ an aggressive game plan, and Strachan’s pass rushing abilities should allow him to see the field early and often. The senior is looking to prove his worth in the SEC, and the Gamecocks will hope to see him living in opposing backfields in the year to come.

Further down the list were a trio of former Gamecocks that have since found new homes. At No. 31 is quarterback Ryan Hilinski, who’s taken his talents to Northwestern. The third-year passer racked up nearly 2,400 yards in Columbia, but lost his starting role to Collin Hill in 2020.

Behind Hilinski come a couple of former Gamecock defenders that will both be on their way to Tallahassee next season. Safety Jammie Robinson ranks No. 41 after starting every game in the South Carolina secondary last year. He notched 136 tackles and two interceptions over two seasons in the SEC.

Right behind him is senior defensive lineman Keir Thomas at No. 42. He started for four years in Columbia, and will now get a chance to play a fifth due to the NCAA lifting eligibility restrictions for the COVID-impacted 2020 season. In 44 career contests, the big man recorded 8.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss. He has the ability to play both inside and out, and should be an asset for the Florida State defense.

The 2021 season is set to begin in a little over two months. We’ll keep an eye on each of these transfers moving forward.