Veteran Gamecock D-lineman, one of Muschamp’s first commits, says he’ll transfer
A veteran member of South Carolina’s defense will finish his college career elsewhere.
Defensive end Keir Thomas announced Tuesday that he is leaving the program and will enter the transfer portal. Thomas penned a farewell post on Twitter, thanking various people including former USC coach Will Muschamp and his Gamecock teammates.
He was one of Muschamp’s first recruits when he committed on Christmas Day 2015, a few weeks after the coach was hired at USC.
“I am confident the development I have experienced at South Carolina, both on and off the field, has prepared me for the next adventure in my football career, pushing me out of my comfort zone into what life has in store for me next,” Thomas wrote Tuesday.
Thomas will have one year of eligibility left wherever he lands.
Thomas played as a fifth-year senior this season and was one of the Gamecocks’ top defensive linemen. He had 32 tackles and three sacks after battling with injuries the year before. He redshirted in 2019 after missing most of the season with an ankle injury and an infection.
Thomas had 141 tackles and 8.5 sacks during his five-year Gamecock career.
Other December 2015 commitments for Muschamp included Javon Kinlaw, Bryan Edwards, Jamarcus King and Sadarius Hutcherson.
Two more to transfer
Redshirt freshman defensive end Joseph Anderson, a former four-star recruit, has entered the transfer portal, USC officials confirmed Tuesday night.
Anderson — as a prospect at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee — cracked the national top 150 in the 247Sports Composite ratings. He was also the third highest-rated player for USC in the class of 2019, behind five-star defensive tackle Zacch Pickens and four-star quarterback Ryan Hilinski.
Once he arrived in Columbia, though, Anderson never became a regular contributor. After appearing in one game as a true freshman and redshirting, he played in four games in 2020, mostly toward the end of the year, and had three tackles.
Redshirt freshman tight end Keshawn Toney also is leaving the program and entering the transfer portal. Toney, who played at Williston-Elko High School, played in five games this season but didn’t catch a pass. He appeared in four games as a freshman and caught one pass.
Toney’s departure leaves the Gamecocks with five returners at tight end. Nick Muse announced earlier this week he would return for a senior season
Former USC tailback lands in PAC-12
Former South Carolina running back DeShaun Fenwick announced Tuesday night on his Instagram page he has committed to PAC-12 school Oregon State. Fenwick announced last week that he was entering the transfer portal.
Fenwick will have three years of eligibility left.
Fenwick appeared in eight games this season, backing up star running back Kevin Harris. He racked up 297 yards and a touchdown on the year, as well as catching 14 passes for 108 yards.
This story was originally published January 5, 2021 at 4:08 PM.
