South Carolina Football: Former Gamecock is back in the transfer portal, looking at 8th season of eligibility

Former South Carolina football defensive back Tavyn Jackson is back in the transfer portal.

If that name conjures up a vague sense of familiarity within Gamecock fans, it's because it has been some time since he was in Columbia. Back in 2019, Jackson received a medical hardship due to Sickle Cell and left the University of South Carolina as he believed he still could play football.

What makes Jackson's situation so interesting is that 2024 will be his 8th season of college football. He was originally part of the 2017 recruiting class. How is he still eligible? Well, according to NCAA football eligibility standards, he essentially never played for the Gamecocks.

In 2017, he took a redshirt (later appealed to a medical redshirt). In 2018, he didn't play again, so when '17 became a medical redshirt, '18 was his "normal" redshirt. In 2019, the University of South Carolina disqualified him from competition before he played at all, so, he did not use a year of eligibility. 2020 was the "Covid redshirt," and he spent it at Coffeyville Community College (as a 4th-year player). In 2021, he was a redshirt freshman in his 5th year. In 2022, Jackson was a redshirt sophomore in his 6th year, and in 2023, Jackson was a redshirt junior in his 7th.

For perspective on just how old Tavyn Jackson is, Jaycee Horn, Ernest Jones, and Israel Mukuamu didn't arrive at South Carolina until the year after Jackson enrolled, and they are all set to start their 4th year in the NFL this fall. Jaylin Dickerson played, retired, and became a full-time assistant coach at Murray State during Jackson's college career. Players like Dakereon Joyner, Darius Rush, and Jovaughn Gwyn all felt like they were in college forever, but they all arrived in Columbia after Jackson and have finished their careers.

Heading into his 8th season of college ball, Tavyn Jackson is looking for a new home. Recruited as a cornerback, he moved to safety before leaving the South Carolina football program and stayed there with the Chanticleers. If he finds a new team and has no issues with his eligibility, Jackson will be one of the oldest players in college football.