South Carolina Football: The Gamecocks need a transfer portal WR; the Gamecocks have offered a transfer portal WR

In case you missed it, South Carolina football transfer portal wide receiver commitment Jayden McGowan (Vanderbilt) flipped his commitment to Boston College last week. NIL was a factor in the decision.

The Gamecocks might have been in the market for a receiver even if McGowan would have stuck with his pledge to play next season in Columbia. However, now that the South Carolina native is going to play a bit further up the East Coast, USC definitely will need to bring in another player to the team's wide receiver room.

On Wednesday, South Carolina football wide receivers coach Justin Stepp dispensed an intriguing offer to a transfer portal pass-catcher.

Gage Larvadain, the 2nd-leading leading receiver in the MAC this season (though, he did have more total yards from scrimmage than the 1st-place Kenneth Womack), announced an offer from the Gamecocks on social media.

The Gamecocks' offer is one of several Power-4 scholarship offers for Larvadain.

Larvadain had one of the best games of any FBS wide receiver in 2023 when he went off for 273 yards and 3 touchdowns (including a 99-yard score) against UMass. In the game, he had another 65-yard catch in which he was just short of the end zone and a 30-yard punt return.

Prior to his one season with the Redhawks, Larvadain played both football and basketball at Southeastern Louisiana and finished 6th in the Southland Conference in receiving in 2022 and 12th in the league in 2021. He was the Southland Conference's Freshman of the Year in 2021.

Larvadain has one year of eligibility remaining, and if he were to commit to the South Carolina football program, he likely would fill the theoretical role that the Gamecocks thought they were filling when Jayden McGowan originally committed.

Larvadain, a smaller receiver at 5'10" and 170 pounds, can operate in the slot and has enough speed to be involved in both the quick game and deep throws. He also has special teams experience as a punt returner for Miami (OH) and as a dynamic kick returner with Southeastern Louisiana who averaged over 25 yards per kick return both seasons he played in Hammond, Louisiana.

You can watch some of his film here.