South Carolina Gamecocks news from the last week in Columbia

The latest South Carolina Gamecocks news from the last week in Columbia, starting with some updates around the South Carolina football team.

The Gamecocks have another coaching vacancy as Justin Stepp is leaving the program for Illinois. After being removed from the wide receiver coaching job (for SEC veteran coach James Coley) and sliding over to tight ends, Stepp decided to leave so that he could keep coaching receivers.

Three walk-on recruits joined the South Carolina football program. Defensive back Jackson Burger, wide receiver Emazon Littlejohn, and offensive lineman/long snapper Jake Recker all committed to the Gamecocks on Wednesday and Thursday.

While running with Gamecock track and field, Nyck Harbor reminded the college football world that he is a freak.

Harbor ran a 6.61 in the 60-meter race, a number that is good for the 12th-best time in the NCAA this year and the 2nd-best time in South Carolina track and field history.

Former Gamecock Josh Vann signed a new pro control.

The wide receiver signed with the Memphis Showboats of the new UFL, a combined league that included the XFL and the USFL.

Another former Gamecock has a new coaching opportunity.

Zeb Noland, who spent time as the starting quarterback in Columbia and as an off-field assistant coach, is joining another previous Gamecock coach's program. Noland will be the quarterbacks coach for the Murray State Racers under new head coach Jody Wright who served as the tight ends coach in Columbia the past two seasons.

Gamecock men's basketball keeps on rolling.

After wins against Ole Miss (68-65) and Vanderbilt (75-60), South Carolina basketball is now 21-3. The Gamecocks will face off with the Auburn Tigers on Wednesday night in what could be a top-10 matchup. USC and Alabama are tied for 1st place in the SEC, and Auburn is just one game back.

South Carolina basketball commitment Okku Federiko received a sizable bump in the recruiting rankings.

The versatile forward from Finland moved up from 194th to 88th in the country. Okku Federiko is a solid 4-star prospect now, and he will join former high school teammate Morris Ugusuk in Columbia this summer.

Carolina product GG Jackson is making his mark on the NBA.

The Columbia native has been really good since being called up full-time to the Memphis Grizzlies, and he set an all-time NBA record last week. Surpassing a record previously held by Kobe Bryant, Jackson became the youngest player ever to score at least 25 points off the bench. He was signed to a long-term contract that same night.

Dawn Staley's team flexed their dominance once again.

The undefeated and undisputed #1 team in America handily beat the Missouri Tigers in the mid-week (85-56) and then dominated the UConn Huskies in front of a sold-out Colonial Life Arena crowd on Sunday (83-65).

The Gamecocks will welcome College GameDay to town this weekend.

College GameDay will be in Columbia for South Carolina-Georgia on Sunday. It will be the second time USC plays in the College GameDay game of the week, but the last one came on the road at LSU.

Former Gamecock Mikiah Herbert Harrigan will get another WNBA shot.

After spending the last two seasons playing overseas, Kiki Herbert Harrigan was signed to a training camp contract with the Phoenix Mercury.

South Carolina baseball will begin their season this week.

On Friday, a 3-game series with Miami (OH) will begin to open the 2024 season. The Gamecocks have big expectations this year (picked in the top half of the elite SEC in virtually every poll), and if the pitching can step up, the offense should be able to lead them to compete for a run at Omaha.

Two Gamecocks made it on the Golden Spikes preseason watch list.

Right fielder Ethan Petry and catcher Cole Messina are on the preseason list for players on the radar of USA Baseball for the Golden Spikes Award.

A former Gamecock was traded in Major League Baseball.

Jonah Bride is on the move from the Oakland (soon to be Las Vegas?) Athletics to the Miami Marlins.

South Carolina softball is undefeated to open the year.

After wins against UNC-Greensboro, Jacksonville State (2x), and Virginia (2x) in the Carolina Classic this weekend, the Gamecocks are 5-0.