South Carolina Football: Transfer portal former Gamecocks off to the NFL
By Kevin Miller
The transfer portal giveth, and the transfer portal taketh away. It’s a modern college football take on an old axiom, but the statement is very true. South Carolina football has reeled in some big fish through the portal. Players like Spencer Rattler and Juice Wells have been major pieces for the Gamecocks and will likely have success in the NFL. However, the other side of the transfer portal is that players leave, and there have been several former Gamecocks who have left the program for different opportunities. Some of these players recently received their call to the NFL.
Former South Carolina defensive back Jammie Robinson was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the 145th pick (Round 5, Pick 10). Robinson was a Freshman All-American as a combo safety and nickel corner for the Gamecocks. After leaving USC, Robinson transferred to Florida State and became an All-ACC player. He will join former Gamecock secondary mate Jaycee Horn and other Gamecock teammates Josh Vann and Shi Smith with the Panthers.
EJ Jenkins, a 6’7″ tight end/wide receiver who spent one year in Columbia, signed a free agent contract with the New York Jets. Jenkins was a standout for St. Francis University (Pennsylvania) before transferring to South Carolina with his quarterback Jason Brown. He was underutilized in 2021 but flashed some impressive ability as a big man who can move. He transferred to Georgia Tech where he was more featured as a regular contributor for the Yellow Jackets. He will reunite with former Gamecock teammate Sherrod Greene as undrafted free agents for the Jets.
Jamyest Williams was an undersized defensive back for the Gamecocks. The highly-touted high school prospect battled injuries and his small stature before eventually transferring away from the South Carolina football program. He ended up at Georgia State and began playing running back. He was granted an NFL training camp contract from the Green Bay Packers. Former South Carolina defensive back Keisean Nixon played with Williams in Columbia and is the kickoff returner for the Packers. Williams could factor into the punt return competition in Green Bay.