South Carolina Football: EDGE rusher announces transfer destination

The South Carolina football program was hit hard at defensive end by the transfer portal this offseason. Starters Jordan Burch and Gilber Edmond elected to leave the program for Oregon and Florida State, respectively (although, there have been some rumors about Burch potentially looking to return to the Gamecocks if possible), and reserve EDGE Rodricus “Hot Rod” Fitten also hit the portal.

Fitten was scarcely used while a member of the South Carolina football team despite being one of the strongest and most athletic players on the Carolina defense. In fact, he had not logged any stats since 2020 when he made two tackles against Kentucky and picked up a half sack at the end of the blowout to the Georgia Bulldogs.

After announcing his intention to enter the transfer portal during this offseason’s winter transfer portal window, no news arose about Fitten’s future plans until this weekend. After a long transfer process, Hot Rod announced his commitment to Eastern Tennessee State University.

The Southern Conference Buccaneers finished last season a disappointing 3-8 and won just one game in conference play. Fitten is expected to come in and compete for a starting role at defensive end or outside linebacker for the Bucs. A member of the recruiting class of 2019, he is now a graduate student but has up to two more years of eligibility remaining at East Tennessee State thanks to a redshirt and the 2020 “Covid redshirt.” He will

If East Tennessee State sounds familiar to some Gamecock fans, it should. Former Gamecocks (and now Denver Broncos) tight end Nate Adkins transferred to the University of South Carolina from East Tennessee State as a graduate student prior to the 2022 football season. Adkins was a big-time contributor for the Gamecocks last fall and will look to stick in the NFL after signing an undrafted free agent contract with the Broncos.