South Carolina Football: Former Gamecock re-enters transfer portal after big year
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina football fans witnessed the worst overall rushing attack in school history in 2023 (85.1 yards per game). At the running back position, D-II transfer Mario Anderson (who has since transferred again) was the starter most of the season, and Dakereon Joyner was asked to play out of position and played while hurt. The offensive line was among the most injured in the entire country, and most of the players who were healthy enough to play had little SEC experience.
Many Gamecock fans blame the transfer portal for the team's struggles in the run game this past season. Former 5-star MarShawn Lloyd bolted for Southern Cal after the 2022 season ended, and part-time tight end/part-time running back/part-time receiver Jaheim Bell left for Florida State. But a more under-the-radar deparutre hurt the Gamecocks, as well.
Rashad Amos, after three seasons being underutilized in Columbia, transferred to Miami (OH) and had a breakout year. Amos rushed for 1075 yards and 13 touchdowns on over 5 yards-per-carry. South Carolina football could have used that type of production this fall to back up Spencer Rattler, Xavier Legette, and the USC passing attack.
Perhaps lost in the busyness of the Christmas season, On3's Pete Nakos reported that the NCAA sent out a memo that seemed to indicate that players who transfer a second time will be eligible immediately, perhaps signaling an end to any academically eligible player sitting out after transferring.
This means that, if the memo's contents are accurate reflections of the NCAA's next moves, players like Amos will be made immediately eligible at their new schools.
Because of his breakout season, Rashad Amos likely will wind up at a major program, and South Carolina football fans just hope it's not with a team on the Gamecock schedule.