South Carolina Football: Transfer Portal Additions on Defense

With over 1600 players entering the 2022-2023 offseason transfer portal (so far), almost every team has seen important talent depart via the portal, and with the pseudo-free agency brought about by the one-time free transfer and NIL opportunities, big-time college football programs are filling talent gaps on their rosters with players from the transfer portal.

South Carolina football’s 2023 transfer portal class is not as highly touted as the 2022 class that brought Spencer Rattler and others to Columbia. However, several transfer additions for the Gamecocks will compete for important roles on the field. It is important to note that the transfer portal is now closed until after most teams have completed spring practice, but players can commit and enroll in 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 defense, one scholarship player has elected to make the move to join the South Carolina football program to this point in the process. Jaron Willis, a versatile linebacker/EDGE player who also played safety in high school will be joining Defensive Coordinator Clayton White’s unit this summer. DeAngelo Gibbs, a walk-on, is a former high-level recruit who could play defensive back or receiver for the Gamecocks. South Carolina could still be in the market for another defensive portal addition after spring practice.

Jaron Willis

Transferred From: University of Mississippi
Eligibility Remaining: 4 Years
Position: LB/EDGE
Expected Role at South Carolina: Compete for Rotational LB/EDGE
Transfer Portal Ranking: 4 Stars (Rivals); 3 Stars (on3); Unranked (247, ESPN)
Recruiting Ranking out of High School: Consensus 4 Stars
Measurables: 6’2”; 225 pounds
Former Player Comp: Corey Atkins

DeAngelo Gibbs

Transferred From: Tennessee/Georgia
Eligibility: 1 Year; 2 Years with Waiver
Position: ATH (WR/DB)
Expected Role at South Carolina: Compete for Rotational at WR/DB
Transfer Portal Ranking: Consensus Unranked
Recruiting Ranking out of High School: 5 Stars (ESPN); 4 Stars (247, Rivals); on3 did not exist yet
Measurables: 6’1″; 200 pounds
Former Player Comp: Matthew Thomas