South Carolina Football: Starter granted extra year of eligibility
By Kevin Miller
In an expected move, the NCAA has granted Jordan Strachan another year of eligibility to return to the South Carolina football program. The defensive end is recovering from a torn ACL suffered during last season’s Arkansas game. Because he had an active appeal, Strachan was able to practice with the team, albeit in a limited fashion as he recovers from his injury.
Strachan will play in his seventh college football season this fall. After taking a standard redshirt while at Georgia State, and receiving his automatic additional year granted to every active player during the 2020 Covid-shortened season, the EDGE player transferred to South Carolina. For those counting along, that brought Strachan to six years of eligibility. However, because of his successful appeal for a medical redshirt for last year’s injury, #7 will be back for year 7.
For perspective, Strachan was a member of the 2017 recruiting cycle. South Carolina signed names like Shi Smith, Jamyest Williams, and OrTre Smith.
Strachan, if healthy, will fill a massive need for the 2023 South Carolina football team. Defensive end/EDGE is one of the thinnest positions on the roster as Jordan Burch and Gilber Edmond surprisingly left the program this offseason via the transfer portal. Strachan was a starter last season before his injury and will likely retake his spot at the top of the depth chart if his knee cooperates.
This is not Strachan’s first ACL tear, but having been essentially unrecruited out of high school and now playing in the SEC, Strachan is used to overcoming the odds. According to the on3 recruiting rankings for the class of 2017, Strachan was not considered one of the best 2500 prospects in the country. He led the country in sacks in 2020 while at Georgia State and parlayed that success into an SEC opportunity. A hard worker, Strachan will surely bounce back and contribute in 2023.
The Gamecocks needed help at the EDGE spot this season, and Strachan will provide it. Fans should not be surprised, however, if Shane Beamer and company look for another player from the transfer portal to join Strachan for the fall.
GamecockCentral’s Mike Uva had the report of Strachan’s successful appeal first.