South Carolina Football: Gamecock makes list of top transfers

South Carolina football brought in an intriguing transfer portal class this offseason.

For the offense, tight ends Trey Know, Josh Simon, and Nick Elksnis were joined by offensive linemen Nick Gargiulo, Sidney Fugar, Jaxon Hughes, and Ni Mansell up front, and running back Mario Anderson and wide receiver Eddie Lewis were portal additions at the offensive skill positions.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Gamecocks added two EDGE players in Jatius Geer and Drew Tuazama (who just joined the team last week), linebacker Jaron Willis, and walk-on defensive back DeAngelo Gibbs.

Several of these transfers are fighting for starting positions. Knox, Gargiulo, and Simon are expected to play a lot on the offense, and Hughes and Fugar are fighting for starting jobs on the offensive line, as well. Both Geer and Tuazama will be part of the defensive end rotation in 2023.

The hype has not just been limited to expectations from South Carolina football fans.

The Athletic released their top-100 transfer portal players of the preseason, and one Gamecock made the list.

Offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo came in at the 97th spot.

Gargiulo is almost guaranteed a starting spot on the interior of the offensive line. Originally believed to be coming for the starting center job vacated by Eric Douglas, he shifted to guard with the emergence of Vershon Lee as the likely starter in the middle.

There has been a lot of movement on the offensive line during the summer and in fall camp, but Gargiulo has been running with the first-team in every iteration of offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley’s unit. Whether the Yale transfer (and former captain) ends up at left guard or right guard is unclear, but the former Ivy Leaguer will start for the Gamecocks.

Gargiulo’s teammates have been hyping him up, as well. Fellow transfer Sidney Fugar (who is fighting for a starting gig and has gotten some of the first-team reps at both offensive tackle spots) called him “the heart and soul” of the offensive line. Quarterback Spencer Rattler repeatedly used the adjective “good” to describe Gargiulo.

Plus, Gargiulo has become locally famous before ever playing a snap in garnet and black. Earlier this offseason, he went down to Jack Brown’s Burger and Beer Joint in downtown Columbia and broke a record by eating 10 cheeseburgers. Another customer beat the record within a week or so, but the offensive lineman says he is satisfied with 2nd place in this particular competition. (You can read a great story on this by Rival’s Alan Cole).

2nd place is not something Gargiulo is satisfied with on the football field, however. He has been noted for his competitiveness and leadership multiple times this offseason by both players and coaches and seems primed for a big year as the leader of the South Carolina football front.

Tight ends Trey Knox and Josh Simon, EDGE players Jatius Geer and Drew Tuazama, and linebacker Jaron Willis have also received some national hype this offseason as some of the country’s top transfers.

Three former South Carolina football players who left the program for new schools also made the list. Defensive end Jordan Burch (Oregon), tight end/wide receiver/running back Jaheim Bell (Florida State), and running back MarShawn Lloyd also were mentioned on the list.