South Carolina Gamecocks News: NFL Draft, new contracts, transfer portal, recruiting, baseball surging, and more

The latest South Carolina Gamecocks news from the last week, starting with the NFL Draft where head coach Shane Beamer became the all-time leader in Gamecock draft picks over a three-year period (12) with four players taken this year.

Wide receiver Xavier Legette was the first Gamecock taken in the NFL Draft as he was selected in the 1st round by the Carolina Panthers.

Quarterback Spencer Rattler was next, taken by the New Orleans Saints in the 5th round.

The 6th round saw defensive back Marcellas Dial picked by the New England Patriots.

One pick shy of being Mr. Irrelevant, offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo went to the Denver Broncos in the 7th round.

Since the draft has ended, wide receiver Ahmarean Brown (Cleveland Browns), tight end Trey Knox (Minnesota Vikings), and defensive lineman Tyreek Johnson (New York Jets) have all signed undrafted free agent contracts. Running back/wide receiver/quarterback Dakereon Joyner was invited to training camp with the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints, and EDGE Jordan Strachan received an invite from the Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs.

Shane Beamer's South Carolina football team was in the news for some recruiting reasons, as well.

Elite 2026 linebacker prospect Rodney Colton, Jr. announced his commitment to the South Carolina football program. Colton is ranked as high as the #2 'backer in the 2026 cycle.

The Gamecocks made the top-5 for tight end prospect Hayden Bradley, but by the weekend, Bradley had committed to the Ole Miss Rebels.

In transfer portal news, the Gamecocks had a pair of big-time receivers on campus in the past couple of days. Florida State defection Vandrevius Jacobs is supposed to be on campus today, and Nevada transfer Dalevon Campbell was in over the weekend.

Transfer receiver targets Kyle Ford and Justus Ross-Simmons committed to the Southern Cal Trojans and Syracuse Orange, respectively.

A couple of Gamecock reserves are leaving the program.

Keenan Nelson, Jr., a reserve safety and nickel with a handful of career starts, is hitting the transfer portal.

Sidney Fugar, a backup offensive lineman who really struggled when forced into action last season, is also in the portal.

Nyck Harbor won another track and field honor.

After posting some personal bests last weekend, Harbor was named the SEC Co-Freshman of the Week.

Lamont Paris' South Carolina basketball team landed a huge transfer portal commitment.

Former Alabama Crimson Tide starting center Nick Pringle revealed he would play his final year of eligibility with his home state Gamecocks. Pringle figures to step into the starting lineup next to star power forward Collin Murray-Boyles. Fellow transfer Jordan Butler, incoming freshman Okku Federiko, and veteran reserve Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk round out the post rotation.

Some other players with Gamecock ties made transfer portal decisions, as well.

Guards Jhamir Brickus, Dakota Leffew, and Kolby King were all on the Gamecocks' radar and there was mutual interest with each player. Brickus wound up picking the Villanova Wildcats, Leffew committed to the Georgia Bulldogs, and King pledged himself to the Butler Bulldogs. Brickus and Leffew returned to their home states.

In the world of high school recruiting, Paris' team made some positive news.

5-star class of 2025 small forward Jamier Jones named his top-6 schools, and the Gamecocks made the cut for the elite athlete. Some recruiting outlets consider Carolina as the favorite.

Dawn Staley made waves with some transfer portal interest, but the rumors died quickly.

Elite transfer Kiki Iriafen (Stanford Cardinal) was reported as ready to take a visit to Columbia this week, but before that visit could happen, her hometown Southern Cal Trojans swooped in and landed her commitment.

Yet another South Carolina basketball alum signed a WNBA deal.

Former All-American guard Destanni Henderson signed a training camp deal with the Atlanta Dream. Her signing brings the Gamecocks' WNBA roster count up to 14, good for the 2nd-highest total in the league behind the UConn Huskies.

Don't look now, but the South Carolina baseball team could be figuring things out on offense.

Playing the top-5 Kentucky Wildcats, the Gamecocks scored 29 runs as they took 2 of 3 in the series at Founders Park.

A dramatic late-game comeback sealed the deal in game 1, and an utterly dominant performance won USC the series finale. Carolina is still right in the thick of things in the Regional hosting race.

South Carolina softball had a good showing on the road to finish off a diamond double series win over an SEC rival.

Against the #21 Kentucky Wildcats on the road, Carolina took two of three from Big Blue.

South Carolina Equestrian coach Boo Major retired.

The coaching legend steps away after three team national titles and 26 years on the job.