South Carolina Football: Elite defensive back with Gamecock ties hits transfer portal

The transfer portal re-opened on Tuesday, and over 100 players have entered the portal already in the spring window. As of now, no new South Carolina football portal additions have come to light, though, dismissed wide receiver Kelton Henderson is entering, and walk-on offensive lineman Jaxon Hughes entered late last week.

The Gamecocks haven't finished spring practice yet, so news about which prospects Shane Beamer and company are planning to pursue has been limited.

However, on Tuesday, a major player with ties to the South Carolina football program hit the transfer portal as Colorado Buffaloes defensive back Cormani McClain announced his intention to leave "Coach Prime" Deion Sanders and the Buffs.

McClain is from the same hometown as Gamecock defensive backs coach Torrian Gray, and the relationship between the two was a big reason why USC was considered (slightly) when he was coming out of high school as a 5-star prospect in the class of 2023. Other than Colorado, the Florida Gators and Miami Hurricanes were believed to be major considerations for McClain, and he was committed to Miami for a time before signing with Colorado.

At this point, it is far too early to determine where McClain might end up this time around, but South Carolina football fans are hopeful that his connection to Torrian Gray will give the Gamecocks a real chance. Carolina has a lot of question marks at the cornerback position as O'Donnell Fortune is slated to be the top corner, and Judge Collier and Vicari Swain will battle with Emory Floyd and incoming freshman Jalewis Solomon for the other starting job on the outside.

The Gamecock coaching staff seems comfortable with what they have at the position, but they appear open to taking a look at corner in the transfer portal if the right player becomes available, and a talent like Cormani McClain is certainly one worth looking into during this spring transfer window.

You can watch some of his film here.