How Gamecock transfers did at their new schools in 2019
Roster attrition is a reality across most of college football. Players see opportunity dimming where they’re at or just don’t feel comfortable, and they simply move on.
South Carolina has seen a range of players depart its roster in the past few seasons. What those former Gamecocks did on college football fields ub tge 2019 season:
Quarterback Brandon McIlwain: After initially playing football at Cal when he left USC, he chose to focus on baseball instead.
Quarterback Lorenzo Nunez: Now a wide receiver at Southeastern Louisiana, he caught 12 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns. Added 36 rushing yards and nine kick returns for an 8-5 team in his senior year.
Running back Ty’Son Williams: At BYU, ran for 264 yards and three touchdowns on 49 carries. Scored a game-winning touchdown in overtime against Tennessee, but tore his ACL in the team’s fourth game.
Running back C.J. Freeman: Landed at Campbell after a stop at Iowa Western junior college (where he did not play). Ran for 215 yards and one touchdown on 49 carries this year. Caught three passes for 21 yards.
Wide receiver Korey Banks: Caught 28 passes for 348 yards and two touchdowns for North Carolina A&T, while running for 57 yards and another touchdown. Returned 18 punts for 184 yards and 21 kicks for an average of 21.7 yards each. Was part of a 9-3 team that won the Celebration Bowl.
Wide receiver Jerad Washington: Caught 10 passes for 124 yards at Jacksonville State.
Wide receiver Christian Owens: Was set to be on Georgia State’s roster, but was not listed on it for 2019.
Wide receiver Jalen Christian: Caught 12 passes for 126 yards in seven games for William & Mary. Also returned 12 kicks and five punts.
Offensive lineman Trey Derouen: Played in three games for Buffalo.
Offensive lineman Pika Leota: Went from South Carolina to Georgia State to James Madison and finally to Benadictine College. He was part of an 8-3 team after earning all-conference honors last season.
Tight end Evan Hinson: Averaging 4.8 points a game in 15.8 minutes for Austin Peay basketball
Defensive lineman Shameik Blackshear: Finished with 12 tackles, two for loss, 1 1/2 sacks at TCU.
Defensive lineman Jesus Gibbs: Had 10 tackles, two sacks and a pair of QB hurries for FCS Towson.
Defensive end/outside linebacker Boosie Whitlow: Had 20 tackles, 6 1/2 for loss, with two sacks, one forced fumble and one pass break-up for Louisville.
Defensive lineman Darius Whitfield: Made 12 tackles, one for loss and recovered a fumble at Northwestern State. Had stops in junior college and at South Alabama after leaving the Gamecocks following the 2016 season.
Linebacker Zay Brown: Made 17 tackles, 1 1/2 for loss, with one QB hurry at Chattanooga.
Linebacker/safety Antoine Wilder: A former rotation player at USC, he was a defensive anchor for N.C. A&T. He made 48 tackles with one interception and three pass break-ups on a defense that allowed 18.6 points per game.
Linebacker Stephen Davis: Another player who landed at N.C. A&T, the one-time running back made 14 tackles and forced a fumble.
Linebacker Sherrod Pittman: In his third year at UT-Martin, he put up 81 tackles, seven for loss, with one interception, two QB hurries and two pass break-ups.
Linebacker Jalen Dread: Landed at North Alabama. Ranked second on the team this season with 77 tackles, 6 1/2 for loss. Picked off two passes, broke up one, forced a fumble and blocked a kick.
Safety Nick Harvey: Fourth on North Texas with 64 tackles, along with one interception and seven pass break-ups.
Safety Javon Charleston: Third on his West Georgia team with 50 tackles, 1 1/2 for loss, broke up three passes.
Corner Darin Smalls: Made 46 tackles and picked off three passes for Charleston Southern. Did not register any statistics against South Carolina.
Kicker Shane Hynes: Landed at Wayne State after a short stint in Columbia. Made one of two field goals, hitting a 30-yarder and getting another blocked. Hit four of five extra points. Averaged 40.6 yards on 17 punts and 57.96 yards per kickoff.
