South Carolina Football: Transfer Portal Losses on Offense this Offseason

South Carolina football was one of the country’s biggest winners in the 2022 transfer portal cycle. The Gamecocks brought in several highly-regarded players, headlined by signal caller Spencer Rattler, and didn’t lose much proven talent to the wild wild west that is the modern transfer portal.

The 2023 portal has been very different for the Gamecocks. While still bringing in needed talent, several contributors have left the program to pursue a future elsewhere. It is important to note that the transfer portal is now closed until after most teams complete spring practice, but players can commit to and enroll at their new school if they had already entered the portal before it closed on January 18th. Players currently in the portal who have not enrolled elsewhere can return to their previous team if the team allows them to do so.

On offense, the Gamecocks have lost two transfer tight ends as versatile playmaker Jaheim Bell and former Oklahoma transfer Austin Stogner are moving on from the South Carolina football program. The running back room has also seen two defections in former 5-star recruit MarShawn Lloyd and talented backup Rashad Amos. Wide receiver Corey Rucker and reserve offensive lineman Jordan Davis entered the portal after not seeing much action in 2022, and walk-on quarterback Jalen Daniels will explore his options through the transfer portal, as well. Due to scholarship constraints, the Gamecocks are expected to have one or two of their other reserve quarterbacks transfer sometime after spring practice when the portal opens again. Other players could announce their intentions to change schools after spring practice, as well.

Tight Ends

Jaheim Bell

Transferred To: Florida State University
Eligibility Remaining: 2 Years
Position: TE/WR/RB
Role at South Carolina: Starter at TE/WR, Rotational at RB who started due to injury
Transfer Portal Ranking: 4 Stars (on3, 247, Rivals); Unranked (ESPN)
Recruiting Ranking out of High School: 4 Stars (247, ESPN); 3 Stars (Rivals); on3 did not exist yet
Measurables: 6’3”; 230 pounds; 4.54 second 40-yard dash; 38-inch vertical
Current Roster Replacement Options: A do-it-all offensive weapon, Bell will likely be replaced through the combined efforts of redshirt seniors Xavier Legette and Dakereon Joyner and by junior Juju McDowell, transfer senior Trey Knox, and transfer redshirt junior Joshua Simon.

Austin Stogner

Transferred To: Oklahoma University (Returning)
Eligibility Remaining: 1 Year
Position: TE
Role at South Carolina: Starter at TE
Transfer Portal Ranking: #66 (ESPN); 3 Stars (on3, 247); Unranked (Rivals)
Recruiting Ranking out of High School: Consensus 4 Stars; on3 did not exist yet
Measurables: 6’6”; 240 pounds; 4.8 second 40-yard dash
Current Roster Replacement Options: A more traditional tight end than Bell, Stogner’s roster spot will be filled by transfer tight end Nick Elksnis, and newcomers Connor Cox and Reid Mikeska will fight for early playing time, as well. Transfers Trey Knox and Joshua Simon will be utilized more as receiving threats at the position but will see time at tight end, as well.

Other Skill Positions

MarShawn Lloyd

Transferred To: University of Southern California
Eligibility Remaining: 2 Years
Position: Running Back
Role at South Carolina: Starter at RB
Transfer Portal Ranking: 4 Stars (on3, 247, Rivals); Unranked (ESPN)
Recruiting Ranking out of High School: 5 Stars (Rivals); 4 Stars (247, ESPN); on3 did not exist yet
Measurables: 5’9”; 210 pounds; 4.45 second 40-yard dash
Current Roster Replacement Options: The Gamecocks do not have a proven back to replace Lloyd currently, but junior Juju McDowell, redshirt sophomore Lovasea Carroll, transfer junior Mario Anderson, and freshman Dontavius Braswell will all look to step up at the position.

Rashad Amos

Transferred To: Miami (OH) University
Eligibility Remaining: 2 Years
Position: Running Back
Role at South Carolina: Reserve at RB
Transfer Portal Ranking: 3 Stars (on3, 247); Unranked (ESPN, Rivals)
Recruiting Ranking out of High School: Consensus 3 Stars; on3 did not exist yet
Measurables: 6’0”; 215 pounds
Current Roster Replacement Options: The Gamecocks do not have a proven back to replace starter Marshawn Lloyd currently, but junior Juju McDowell, redshirt sophomore Lovasea Carroll, transfer junior Mario Anderson, and freshman Dontavius Braswell will all look to step up at the position to take on the roles vacated by Lloyd and Amos.

Corey Rucker

Transferred To: Arkansas State (Returning)
Eligibility Remaining: 3 Years (Must sit out a year due to second transfer prior to graduating)
Position: Wide Receiver
Role at South Carolina: Reserve at WR (Injured)
Transfer Portal Ranking: 3 Stars (on3, 247); Unranked (ESPN, Rivals)
Recruiting Ranking out of High School: 3 Stars (247, ESPN); 2 Stars (Rivals); on3 did not exist yet
Measurables: 6’1”; 190 pounds
Current Roster Replacement Options: A receiver who plays inside and outside, Rucker will be replaced by other receiver depth pieces in redshirt senior Dakereon Joyner and young players like Landon Sampson, O’Mega Blake, Kylic Horton, and newcomers Eddie Lewis, Vicari Swain, Kelton Henderson, and Elijah Caldwell. Incumbent contributors Ahmarean Brown and Xavier Legette likely will play alongside star receiver Juice Wells.

Other Offensive Players

Jordan Davis

Transferred To: University of South Alabama
Eligibility Remaining: 3 Years
Position: Offensive Line (Guard/Tackle)
Role at South Carolina: Reserve OL
Transfer Portal Ranking: Consensus Unranked
Recruiting Ranking out of High School: Consensus 3 Stars; on3 did not exist yet
Measurables: 6’5”; 300 pounds
Current Roster Replacement Options: Young linemen such as Grayson Mains and JonDarius Morgan will compete with freshmen Markee Anderson and Trovon Baugh to potentially position themselves among the 2-deep at guard and center, the same competition Davis would have been a part of if he had not transferred.

Jalen Daniels

Transferred To: Undecided
Eligibility Remaining: 4 Years
Position: QB
Role at South Carolina: Reserve at QB
Transfer Portal Ranking: Consensus Unranked
Recruiting Ranking out of High School: 3 Stars (247); Unranked (on3, ESPN, Rivals)
Measurables: 6’4”; 200 pounds
Current Roster Replacement Options: With too many scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, South Carolina is probably looking to shed one or two players from the position. Daniels’ spot on the roster will not be filled unless it is by another walk-on.