The NCAA transfer portal for the winter window is officially open, and there are plenty of players who have already announced their intention of entering.
South Carolina has had their fair share of players enter the portal, but when it comes to starters or any of the bigger names, head coach Shane Beamer, to this point, has found a way to keep those guys in the building.
Here is every player that has announced they have entered the transfer portal and where they have decided to go:
- Bangally Kamara LB: Kansas Jayhawks
- Ni Mansell IOL: TBA
- Mohamed Kaba LB: TBA
- Reid Mikeska TE: TBA
- Djay Braswell RB: TBA
- Nick Elksnis TE: TBA
- Connor Cox TE: TBA
- Debron Gatling WR: TBA
- Elijah Caldwell WR: TBA
- CJ Adams WR: TBA
- Daniel Lester PK: TBA
- Tyshawn Russell WR: TBA
- Jamall Whyce DL: TBA
- Robby Ashford QB: TBA
- Elijah Davis DE: TBA
Looking at this list at face value, the Gamecocks need to go out and get more pass catchers. So far, three tight ends and four wide receivers have announced they have entered the portal. The Gamecocks still have some great pass catchers with the team, like Nyck Harbor or Jared Brown, but losing three tight ends with the possibility of losing senior Joshua Simon is big.
Beamer has shown he has an eye for bringing guys in through the portal, just look at Kyle Kennard, the Gamecock's top pass rusher this season. Kennard came in from the portal after spending four seasons with Georgia Tech and was a perfect fit for the Gamecocks' defensive line.
The player can choose to leave for any reason, whether it is because of playing time, coaching change, whether head coach or coordinators or simply wanting to play in a new environment.
How does the transfer portal work?
South Carolina was already aware of a few players entering the portal early, but the transfer portal officially opened on Monday, December 9, which basically means that coaches and universities are able to begin talking with players in the portal about visits and potentially joining their program. Just because a player enters the transfer portal does not mean they have to transfer, they could decide to stay with their school.
Entering the transfer portal gives players the ability to speak with other schools about the potential of leaving their school, but ultimately, if they don't feel like they find the right fit, they could choose to stay where they are. Players must inform their coaches that they intend to enter the transfer portal so that their profiles can be entered into the database and seen by other coaches.
The transfer portal is set to close on December 28, 2024, for the winter window. The spring window will open on April 26, 2025, and close again on April 25, 2025. Players are only allowed to enter the transfer portal when it is closed if they have a head coaching change, but that window is only open for 30 days.