South Carolina Football: Offensive player hits the portal
By Kevin Miller
The South Carolina football program had not faced much transfer portal attrition this spring before Wednesday as only reserve offensive lineman Colin Henrich and suspended defensive back Anthony Rose had been the only two players to announce any intentions of leaving the team.
That changed on Wednesday morning when defensive tackle Demetrius Watson entered his name into the transfer portal. Then, Wednesday afternoon brought another name to the portal as former 4-star quarterback Braden Davis also put his name in the transfer portal in search of a new opportunity.
A couple of hours later, Jackson Hall followed suit. An unranked offensive lineman recruit from Belton-Honea Path High School, Hall was primarily an interior offensive lineman during his short tenure in Columbia. He redshirted the 2022 season without seeing much action on the field. He joins Colin Henrich as offensive linemen to hit the portal this spring. Neither player figured to factor into the two-deep at any offensive line position this season.
The good news for Gamecock fans is that reinforcements are coming on the offensive line. True freshman Markee Andeson has already impressed coaches this spring as an early enrollee, and ‘Tosin “Big Tree” Babalade and Trovon Baugh were 4-star high school prospects who will be on campus this summer. Jatavius Shivers was also part of the 2023 class as has a high upside at tackle.
The 2024 class could be even better as 4-star tackle commitments Kam Pringle and Josiah Thompson (a potential 5-star when all is said and done) and 3-star interior linemen commits Blake Franks and Mike Williams will be joining the program next year. “The Great Wall of Columbia,” as the class has been called, will partner with the 2023 class and (potentially) future classes to create an offensive line unit with more talent than any group for the Gamecocks in years.