South Carolina Football: Former Gamecock starter leaving via transfer portal

South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer mentioned this week that he expected a few Gamecocks to explore their options in the transfer portal. That prediction came true on Wednesday.

According to a report from 247Sports Matt Zenitz, offensive lineman Sidney Fugar, who spent just one year in Columbia after transferring in from Western Illinois, is leaving the program in the transfer portal.

As a developmental take in the transfer portal last offseason, Fugar, despite not being ready, was thrust into action because of injuries on the offensive line. He started multiple games and had to play in several more. Fugar struggled mightily (as did most of the Gamecock offensive line unit), and he was pushed back into being a depth piece this offseason.

The struggles from 2023 seemed to have stunted Fugar's development as he did not seem anywhere near to fighting for a starting position this spring. Fugar didn't have a good spring game, either, and as player-coach spring exit interviews concluded, the big tackle decided that now was the time for him to seek a fresh start.

Fugar's decision to leave the program likely won't be the last this spring, but with Fugar's departure, fellow offensive lineman Jaxon Hughes' transfer, and several other players on the line being in their final years of eligibility, South Carolina football also will be in the market for an offensive lineman or two in the transfer portal.

For this season, though, players like Jakai Moore, Cason Henry, Tree Babalade, Aaryn Parks, and 5-star freshman Josiah Thompson seem to be the leading candidates to win the starting tackle jobs. Moore, Henry, and Babalade have starting experience at tackle for the Gamecocks, Parks was a highly-ranked prospect out of high school in 2020 before transferring from Oklahoma to South Carolina this offseason, and Thompson is the player with the most potential.