South Carolina Football: Former 4-star quarterback announces transfer decision

South Carolina football fans are waiting for their Gamecocks to add a quarterback through the transfer portal. There are only two QBs on the current USC roster as redshirt freshman LaNorris Sellers and true freshman Dante Reno are alone in offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains' position room.

Less than a year ago, though, the South Carolina football quarterback room was among the deepest in the SEC with six former 4-star or 5-star QBs prospects playing for the garnet and black.

Last spring, Braden Davis (a 4-star redshirt freshman) transferred to Syracuse. Then, during the 2023 season, former 4-star Luke Doty (redshirt junior) moved to wide receiver. After the 2023 season, former 5-star Spencer Rattler (redshirt junior) announced his intentions to enter the 2024 NFL Draft. Then, two more former 4-stars announced their plans to transfer, as well. These two signal-callers were Tanner Bailey (redshirt freshman) and Colten Gauthier (redshirt sophomore).

On Sunday, Gauthier announced his new school with a post on his personal Twitter/X account.

The former 4-star from Good Hope, Georgia will play at Gardner-Webb. The Runnin' Bulldogs will welcome Gauthier to the Big South Conference and FCS football this fall.

In his three years as a member of the South Carolina football program, Gauthier went 2-3 as a passer, logging 29 yards through the air. Carolina is also losing its best guitar player as Gauthier frequently played music gigs across Columbia.

Gauthier's exit means that one of the Gamecocks' six blue chip quarterbacks from last spring is still in the USC quarterback room (LaNorris Sellers). While no one expected Rattler to return with the NFL calling and for all of the other five players to stick around, losing all five of their six quarterbacks was a bit of a surprise.

The Gamecocks would like to keep Luke Doty at wide receiver and to redshirt Dante Reno, but if they are unable to find a suitable quarterback to bring the count to three at the position, Doty might have to move back to the quarterback position and Reno might have to play some.