South Carolina Football: Gamecock transfer portal target ranked third-best portal player
By Kevin Miller
The second transfer portal window opens officially on Saturday, meaning that non-graduate football transfers can enter the portal and enroll in their new schools. The window closes again on April 30th. After a successful string of transfers in the first open portal window, the South Carolina football team is hopeful to pick up where they left off.
One of the Gamecocks’ top targets in the portal is Florida State transfer defensive end/EDGE Derrick McLendon. McLendon started for the Seminoles most of the past two seasons. South Carolina transfer defensive end/EDGE Gilber Edmond joined the Seminoles during the first open transfer portal window, so Head Coach Shane Beamer is hoping for an even trade. If McLendon were to choose the Gamecocks, he would fill a position of need as South Carolina returns just one EDGE player with experience in Jordan Strachan, and he is coming off of a torn ACL.
247Sports has recently updated their transfer portal individual player rankings, and McLendon moved up to a prominent spot in the rankings. McLendon now is the #3-ranked player still uncommitted in the transfer portal.
The South Carolina football program is currently ranked 29th in 247Sports’ team transfer portal recruiting rankings but have taken fewer transfer players than the majority of the teams ranked ahead of them. Adding McLendon would surely bump the Gamecocks up a few spots in the rankings.
In addition to being in the market for a defensive end, the Gamecocks are also hoping to add a running back through the portal and are kicking the tires on good players at linebacker and in the secondary. Wide receiver and defensive tackle are also positions the Carolina staff has selectively evaluated.