South Carolina Football: Impact transfer portal target makes commitment

The South Carolina football roster is in need of a running back. Dakereon Joyner moved over to the position to help out, but scatback Juju McDowell is the only scholarship returner at the position, and transfer Mario Anderson has never played above Division-II. The two biggest running back targets on the transfer portal recruiting board for the Gamecocks have been Notre Dame defection Logan Diggs and former NC State running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye.

On Tuesday, Demie Sumo-Karngbaye made his transfer decision known to the public.

“Sharko,” as he is nicknamed, has pledged himself to Mark Stoops and the Kentucky Wildcats. He will join fellow Wolfpack transfer Devin Leary in deciding to move to the Bluegrass State. The quarterback and running back duo played together in 2022, but Sumo-Karngbaye saw limited action due to injury. In 2023, they now are one of the top transfer newcomer pairs in the SEC.

Against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in 2022, Sharko contributed almost 150 yards of offense and two touchdowns in the Wolfpack win. According to PFF, prior to his injuries, Sumo-Karngbaye was one of the highest-rated backs to enter the transfer portal this offseason. He has up to three more years of eligibility remaining for the Wildcats.

The recruiting loss is a big one for the Gamecocks and has the potential to be an absolutely massive miss if Diggs also decides to go elsewhere. Diggs is expected to decide soon and is choosing between South Carolina, LSU, and Ole Miss with the Gamecocks and Tigers appearing to be significantly ahead of the Rebels in the running to land the Louisiana native. LSU is viewed as a slight favorite over the Gamecocks.

EDIT: After this writing, Logan Diggs also announced his commitment to Notre Dame.

South Carolina will be adding true freshman class of 2023 running back signee DJay Braswell this summer to partner with Joyner, McDowell, and Anderson in the backfield.