In 2021, the NCAA passed legislation allowing any player to utilize a “one-time free transfer” to change schools without penalty. The new wrinkle in the transfer portal was made available for all scholarship sports, and transfers increased exponentially as players no longer had to sit out a season after a transfer in most cases. South Carolina saw players enter and exit the program at a greater pace than ever before.
The transfer portal was created in 2018 to provide more transparency in the world of college athletics. In the few years leading up to the 2021 one-time free transfer legislation, many players who entered the portal were having their waiver requests for immediate eligibility passed, but the free transfer was not made official until 2021.
In the three offseasons since the transfer portal became what it is today, what has become of the Gamecocks who have left the program? *NOTE* This will start with the offseason after the 2020 football season as players who entered the portal that offseason were granted their immediate eligibility despite entering the portal prior to the official legislation’s passing.
South Carolina Football’s Offensive Transfer Portal Defections
Deshaun Fenwick
Position: Running Back
New School: Oregon State
Role at South Carolina: Rotational running back
Role at New School: Rotational running back
What Happened Next: Fenwick played as part of a two-back system at Oregon State for two seasons. He has one more year of eligibility if he would like to use it, but he is expected to test the NFL waters.
KeShawn Toney
Position: Tight End
New School: Chattanooga
Role at South Carolina: Depth tight end
Role at New School: Rotational tight end
What Happened Next: Toney played more at Chattanooga than he did as a Gamecock but still did not catch many passes. He still has two more years of eligibility.
OrTre Smith
Position: Wide Receiver
New School: North Carolina Central
Role at South Carolina: Rotational wide receiver who lost job after injury
Role at New School: Depth wide receiver
What Happened Next: Smith was never the same after his leg injuries, and he only played in three games for the North Carolina Central Eagles, catching four total passes.
Ryan Hilinski
Position: Quarterback
New School: Northwestern
Role at South Carolina: Former starter after Jake Bentley’s injury in 2019; lost job prior to 2020
Role at New School: Starter who lost his job in 2021; In and out of the starting lineup in 2022
What Happened Next: Hilinski played early at Northwestern but was benched after poor play. Last season, he was in and out of the starting lineup for a 1-11 Wildcat team. He has another year of eligibility.
Mike Wyman
Position: Wide Receiver
New School: None
Role at South Carolina: Depth wide receiver
Role at New School: N/A
What Happened Next: Wyman was linked to several schools while in the transfer portal, but no school was willing to pull the trigger on bringing him in after his poor performance and off-the-field questions.
Jordan Rhodes
Position: Offensive Lineman
New School: Ole Miss
Role at South Carolina: Former starter at guard; opted out of the Covid-affected 2020 season, came back, but couldn’t regain the job
Role at New School: On-and-off starter at guard
What Happened Next: Rhodes transferred to Ole Miss to play immediately. He got on the field early and played well. His production fell off a cliff, and he was benched. Rhodes transferred again to Arkansas State where he started in 2022. He has another year of eligibility.
Vincent Murphy
Position: Offensive Lineman
New School: Western Kentucky
Role at South Carolina: Depth interior offensive lineman
Role at New School: Starter at guard
What Happened Next: Murphy transferred to WKU and immediately became a starter at guard. He was an All-Conference USA selection in 2022. He has another year of eligibility.
Jason Brown
Position: Quarterback
New School: Virginia Tech
Role at South Carolina: Bench quarterback thrust into starting action after multiple injuries and a graduate assistant was tried at the position
Role at New School: Third-string quarterback
What Happened Next: Brown saw the writing on the wall when Spencer Rattler transferred to South Carolina and transferred to Virginia Tech but was third on the depth chart. He appealed for a seventh year of eligibility, was granted it, and transferred to his fourth team. He will play his final year at Jackson State.
EJ Jenkins
Position: Wide Receiver
New School: Georgia Tech
Role at South Carolina: Rotational wide receiver and tight end
Role at New School: Starter at wide receiver
What Happened Next: Jenkins played immediately at Georgia Tech. He had a solid 2022 season that included a touchdown catch against Clemson. He will likely be picked up as an undrafted free agent in the NFL but has an outside chance of being drafted.
Keveon Mullins
Position: Tight End/Wide Receiver
New School: Jackson State
Role at South Carolina: Rotational tight end and wide receiver who lost his job in 2021
Role at New School: Never appeared in a game
What Happened Next: Mullins transferred to Jackson State but never appeared on the team’s football roster. He has not resurfaced in college football.
Rico Powers
Position: Wide Receiver
New School: Jackson State
Role at South Carolina: Depth wide receiver
Role at New School: Rotational wide receiver
What Happened Next: Powers transferred to Jackson State and became a contributor at receiver for the Tigers. He has up to three more years of eligibility.
Ger-Cari Caldwell
Position: Wide Receiver
New School: North Carolina A&T
Role at South Carolina: Depth wide receiver
Role at New School: Starter at wide receiver
What Happened Next: Caldwell transferred to NCA&T and became one of the better receivers on the team. He has up to three more years of eligibility.
Eric Shaw
Position: Tight End/Wide Receiver/Defensive End/Outside Linebacker
New School: Troy
Role at South Carolina: Depth/Experimental player all over
Role at New School: Depth linebacker
What Happened Next: After refusing to play on defense for the Gamecocks (his best position was EDGE), Shaw couldn’t crack the rotation on offense and transferred to Troy. He wanted to play wide receiver but was moved to the bandit (outside linebacker) spot. He has not accumulated any stats at Troy but has up to two more years of eligibility.
Will Rogers
Position: Offensive Lineman
New School: McNeese State
Role at South Carolina: Depth offensive lineman
Role at New School: Depth defensive lineman
What Happened Next: Rogers only saw action in one game in 2022 as a reserve defensive lineman but has up to two more years of eligibility.
Trey Adkins
Position: Wide Receiver
New School: Mercer
Role at South Carolina: Rotational wide receiver
Role at New School: Rotational wide receiver
What Happened Next: Adkins played a similar role at Mercer as he did for the Gamecocks, but he saw a few more passes thrown his way. The official 2023 roster has not been released at Mercer, but Adkins has another year of eligibility if he wishes to use it.
Jazston Turnetine
Position: Offensive Lineman
New School: Florida State
Role at South Carolina: On-and-off starter at offensive tackle
Role at New School: Starter at guard
What Happened Next: Turnetine became a starter at guard for Florida State before a tough leg injury ended his season. He is hoping to be picked up as an undrafted free agent after the 2023 NFL Draft.
Sam Reynolds
Position: Wide Receiver
New School: Towson
Role at South Carolina: Depth wide receiver
Role at New School: Rotational wide receiver and running back
What Happened Next: Reynolds was a contributor in 2022 at Towson. He primarily played wide receiver but lined up in the backfield for the Tigers, as well. He has up to three more years of eligibility remaining.
Austin Stogner
Position: Tight End
New School: Oklahoma
Role at South Carolina: Starter at tight end
Role at New School: Expected rotational tight end
What Happened Next: Stogner transferred from Oklahoma to South Carolina with Spencer Rattler before the 2022 season. He started but played a smaller-than-expected role for the Gamecocks. He transferred back to Oklahoma this offseason for his final year of eligibility.
MarShawn Lloyd
Position: Running Back
New School: Southern Cal
Role at South Carolina: Starter at running back
Role at New School: Expected starter at running back
What Happened Next: After missing much of his South Carolina career with an ACL injury, Lloyd became the starter in 2022 but unceremoniously transferred after disagreements with the coaching staff regarding his usage. He is expected to be the top back for the other USC this fall.
Jaheim Bell
Position: Tight End/Wide Receiver/Running Back
New School: Florida State
Role at South Carolina: Starter at tight end/rotational wide receiver/rotational running back
Role at New School: Expected starter at tight end
What Happened Next: A strange and winding road at South Carolina ended when Bell decided to transfer to Florida State. He seems to be in line to be a top playmaker for the Seminole offense this season.
Jordan Davis
Position: Offensive Line
New School: South Alabama
Role at South Carolina: Depth offensive lineman
Role at New School: Expected depth offensive lineman
What Happened Next: Davis is not expected to play immediately for South Alabama but has up to three more years of eligibility after not playing a down in Columbia.
Corey Rucker
Position: Wide Receiver
New School: Arkansas State
Role at South Carolina: Rotational wide receiver; didn’t play much due to injury
Role at New School: Starter at wide receiver
What Happened Next: A transfer from Arkansas State, Rucker missed most of 2022 with injury and transferred back to the Red Wolves. He was a high-level player with them in 2021, so he is expected to return to his starting role if the NCAA grants him eligibility.
Rashad Amos
Position: Running Back
New School: Miami (Ohio)
Role at South Carolina: Depth running back
Role at New School: Expected starter at running back
What Happened Next: Amos is expected to be the top back for the Red Hawks but will battle with one other player for the majority of the team’s carries.