Gamecocks starter foregoing final season, will enter NFL draft
South Carolina tight end Kyle Markway had the option to play for a sixth season in Columbia.
The veteran from Missouri won’t be taking that and instead plans to enter the NFL draft, he tweeted Tuesday. He was one of three players who took part in this year’s senior day while still having the option to return. Jake Bentley transferred to Utah, and offensive lineman Sadarius Hutcherson is returning to USC.
“The past 5 years have been filled with ups and downs and tested me in ways I never could have imagined,” Markway wrote. “I am beyond grateful for all the experiences I have faced while at this university.”
He thanked his coaches, mentioning Will Muschamp, Steve Spurrier, Bobby Bentley and Ryan Bellerose.
Markway had been asked about his decision late in the season but declined to discuss where his thoughts were about it. Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp said all those discussions happen after the season.
Markway had been granted the option to play a sixth year late last season after losing two years to injury.
The Missouri native finished his career on its best note, catching 31 balls for 349 yards and two touchdowns. He was left as basically the last man standing among the tight ends, as a co-starter (Kiel Pollard) and veteran reserve (Evan Hinson) were lost to injury and transfer at the start of the season. Nick Muse came on after getting an NCAA waiver, but then he tore his ACL.
Markway came through a great deal in his time with the Gamecocks. He played in every game as a freshman and even started against his home-state Missouri Tigers.
But injuries limited him to two games in 2016 and 2017. He said he never considered quitting and came back to have a decent reserve role in 2018. He finishes his collegiate career with 37 catches, 459 yards and three touchdowns in 39 games.
His departure leaves South Carolina a bit thin at tight end. Muse returns as a veteran, but behind him are little-used, fourth-year player Will Register, Traevon Kenion and KeShawn Toney, who both redshirted as freshmen this year, and former walk-on offensive lineman Chandler Farrell. USC has one tight end commitment in the 2020 class, three-star Eric Shaw, and is in the final three for Valdosta, Georgia, athlete Jaheim Bell.
This story was originally published December 10, 2019 at 12:52 PM.
