Who’s Leaving South Carolina Football? Complete 2025 Transfer Portal Tracker

The college football transfer portal officially opened on Jan. 2, and for South Carolina Gamecocks, this window is less about window-shopping and more about survival.
The Gamecocks are coming off its worst season under head coach Shane Beamer, finishing 4–8 overall and 1–7 in SEC play in 2025. It marked the fewest wins of Beamer’s tenure. The season ended with several things needing to be addressed with urgency and accountability. And a roster that clearly needs recalibration. This year’s portal window is also shorter and more unforgiving. The winter window will remain open Jan. 2–16, placing even more pressure on staff to evaluate, recruit, and retain talent.

Below is an up-to-date tracker of South Carolina’s transfer portal movement for the upcoming 2026 season, including reported visitors and confirmed departures. This list will be updated as new information emerges.

Transfer portal visitors: Who South Carolina is targeting

DJ Chester, OL (LSU)
LSU offensive lineman DJ Chester is expected to visit Columbia, per 247Sports’ Chris Hummer. Chester started all 13 games at center in 2024 and appeared in seven games in 2025 as a redshirt sophomore, bringing high-level SEC experience to a unit in flux.

Jayden Gibson, WR (Oklahoma)
GamecockCentral reported that the former Oklahoma wide receiver was in town on Jan. 3. Gibson missed the start of the 2024 season due to injury but flashed big-play ability in 2023, finishing with 375 yards, 14 receptions, and four touchdowns.

Brendan Black, OL (Iowa State)
On3’s Hayes Fawcett reported that Black will visit South Carolina Jan. 6–7 following a stop at Nebraska. Black was a three-year starter for the Cyclones and would immediately bolster interior depth and leadership for the Gamecocks.

The full list of transfers by announcement date:

• TE Michael Smith (Oct. 7)
• OL Nick Sharpe (Dec. 3)
• DL Zavion Hardy (Dec. 4)
• WR Emazon Littlejohn (Dec. 4)
• LB Jaron Willis (Dec. 7)
• K Peyton Argent (Dec. 9)
• OL Mac Walters (Dec. 15)
• OL Trovon Baugh (Dec. 17)
• WR Brian Rowe Jr. (Dec. 18)
• OL Cason Henry (Dec. 19)
• QB Air Noland (Dec. 22)
• OL Tree Babalade (Dec. 23)
• LB Taeshawn Alston (Dec. 24)
• DT Chase Kibble (Dec. 24)
• DB Myles Norwood (Dec. 27)
• OL Rodney Newsom, Jr. (Dec. 29)
• OL Boaz Stanley (Dec. 31)
• WR Vandrevius Jacobs (Jan. 1)
• OL Josiah Thompson (Jan. 3)
• OL Campbell Vandiver (Jan. 3)

South Carolina players entering the transfer portal

Josiah Thompson, OT
Thompson is a scholarship offensive lineman who spent two years with the Gamecocks. He will have two years of eligibility left.

Vandrevius Jacobs, WR
One of the most productive offensive players in 2025, Jacobs totaled 548 yards on 32 catches with four touchdowns. His departure is significant for the Gamecocks. He transferred from Florida State and was a clear bright spot in an otherwise difficult season for the

Boaz Stanley, OL
After one season, Stanley will enter the portal. He started nine games, primarily at center, and played in every contest. He transferred from Troy and also played at Georgia Military College.

Rodney Newsom Jr., OL
Newsom confirmed his portal entry Dec. 29 after one season in Columbia. He made three starts in 2025 after transferring from Western Kentucky and would need to seek an additional year of eligibility.

Myles Norwood, DB
The redshirt senior decided to enter the portal after one season with the Gamecocks. Norwood previously played at Ball State and Iowa State.

Chase Kibble, DL
As a walk-on defensive tackle Kibble saw limited action early in his Gamecock career but made his presence felt. He appeared briefly in two games during the 2024 season, including recording one solo tackle.

Taeshawn Alston, LB/EDGE
Alston will enter the portal with four years of eligibility after redshirting and not appearing in a game.

Tree Babalade, OL
Babalade departs after three seasons. The redshirt junior started five consecutive games at right tackle late in 2025 and appeared in seven total games.

Air Noland, QB
A former Ohio State quarterback transfer, Noland saw limited action at quarterback during the 2025 season, spending most of the year behind starter LaNorris Sellers and backup Luke Doty on the depth chart.

Cason Henry, OL
A major loss for the Gamecocks, Henry exits with two years of eligibility remaining after a season cut short by a shoulder injury. His experience and versatility were critical to the offensive line.

Brian Rowe Jr., WR
The freshman wideout posted 19 catches for 149 yards and a touchdown across eight games in 2025.

Trovon Baugh, OL
Arguably one of the most impactful departures for the Gamecocks. Baugh started 11 of 12 games and spent three seasons with the program.

Mac Walters, DL (walk-on)
Walters played in six games over three seasons and announced his portal entry Dec. 15.

Peyton Argent, K/P (walk-on)
The redshirt sophomore kicker/punter enters the portal with two years remaining.

Jaron Willis, LB
Willis played in 20 career games with South Carolina after starting his career at Ole Miss, logging five solo tackles in 2025.

Emazon Littlejohn, WR (walk-on)
Littlejohn appeared briefly in one game during the 2024 season.

Zavion Hardy, DL
The JUCO transfer arrived in January 2025 and appeared in one game against Coastal Carolina.

Nick Sharpe, OL
Sharpe entered the portal with one graduate year remaining after transferring from Wake Forest. He played in nine games and made five starts.

Michael Smith, WR
In his two seasons at South Carolina, Smith played in 16 games, with 12 receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown.

Bottom line

For the South Carolina Gamecocks, the Transfer Portal window comes with a stopwatch. The Gamecocks have lost a lot of experience, starters, and depth, especially along the offensive line. Shane Beamer and his renewed coaching staff now have less than two weeks to stabilize the roster before the momentum slips out of thier hands. The portal will define whether the 2026 season is a bounce-back year or a deeper spiral, and there is no margin for error.