South Carolina edge rusher Desmond Umeozulu blindsided the Gamecocks last week by entering the NCAA transfer portal on Jan. 15, just before the transfer window closed- a full day after he had already signed a contract to play for South Carolina in 2026.
Now here's where it gets messy. Because Umeozulu signed that contract and then exited via the portal, the agreement is now considered broken. Choices always have consequences, especially when contracts are involved, and Umeozulu’s move shows how quickly a commitment can turn into a legal and financial headache. South Carolina is now pursuing the six‑figure buyout that was in that deal. A university source confirms that the buyout, which could be triggered by either Umeozulu or his new school, is being enforced, though details on timing and total figure remain sealed.
A similar lawsuit also out of the SEC last season underscores how contentious these buyouts can get. When Georgia edge Damon Wilson II signed with Georgia and then later entered the transfer portal and ended up at Missouri, Georgia filed a suit seeking $390,000 in damages. That case that remains pending.
Destination: Alabama But What’s the Role?
Just days after entering the portal, Umeozulu committed to Alabama, choosing the Crimson Tide for his final year of eligibility. At 6‑foot‑6 and 250 pounds, Umeozulu has the size profile of an effective SEC edge rusher and was once a four‑star recruit. But in three years with the Gamecocks, he never established himself as a starter, finishing with 30 total tackles and 1.5 sacks across 36 games and just one start.
The narrative does make sense. Umeozulu never made it past rotational duties at South Carolina, mostly playing behind Dylan Stewart and Bryan Thomas Jr., who each logged over 450 snaps last season to his 329. South Carolina also brought in Tennessee transfer edge Caleb Herring just prior to Umeozulu’s departure, news that broke just hours before the portal announcement. The timing fueled speculation that Umeozulu saw his role shrinking and opted to move before spring ball.
At Alabama, Umeozulu will enter a crowded but opportunistic defensive front. Reports show Bama has been aggressively adding transfers, including defensive linemen and edge pieces, as coach Kalen DeBoer reshapes the roster for a title push. Umeozulu is part of that puzzle.
South Carolina’s Edge Room Still Loaded
Umeozulu’s departure doesn’t leave a hole. The Gamecocks are returning depth with five edge players from the 2025 roster, two more incoming from the portal and two freshman recruits. Led by Dylan Stewart, who has ascended into one of the deeper rotational units in the conference, the Gamecocks look well‑positioned, without Umeozulu, to maintain defensive disruption.
In this era of college football, you can lose a piece like Umeozulu, but if the architecture of your roster is solid, you don’t collapse. The buyout fight, however, is something new. And likely where the real leverage battle happens off the field.
Why This Matters for the Future of CFB
This situation comes at a time when tensions in college football’s transfer economy are becoming increasingly common. It is player commitment versus contract obligation. Teams want stability; players want mobility. Those two goals frequently collide when contracts get signed before portal windows open.
Then you factor in financial liabilities. When buyouts are triggered, who pays? The player? The new school? Both sides are fighting for precedent in cases like this.
And then there is the portal timing dynamics that are in play. Umeozulu’s exit being announced right after a new EDGE commitment for South Carolina highlights how roster changes can influence decision‑making.
Expect this situation to echo through future transfer cycles as programs double‑down on contract language and players get savvier about timing. Welcome to the new era of college football.