What holes might South Carolina plug this offseason through the transfer portal?
South Carolina’s offseason picture remains murky.
With a bowl game still on the horizon, possible staff changes coming and plenty of current Gamecock players with decisions to be made about their futures, it’s not altogether clear what the roster needs will be this offseason.
But as the transfer portal begins to fill up — and with some context clues — there are a few positions South Carolina may need to plug with veteran imports heading toward Shane Beamer’s second offseason in charge in Columbia.
Here are a couple of position groups that USC may look to bolster through the transfer portal:
Quarterback
South Carolina’s quarterbacks weren’t world beaters in 2021, but it’s hard to overstate how impressive it is the Gamecocks mitigated injuries to two different signal callers and still won six games this year.
Zeb Noland’s college career will (finally) conclude in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. That leaves Jason Brown, Luke Doty and Colten Gauthier as the scholarship quarterbacks returning. South Carolina will also add four-star freshman Braden Davis to the fold.
The vibe in USC circles is that the Gamecocks could look to the portal for an experienced option to springboard an offense that was average, at best, during Beamer’s first full season at the helm.
Fans will clamor for Ohio State transfer Jack Miller or former Oklahoma QB Spencer Rattler to join the fold, though the indication is there’s not any discernible interest from USC, Rattler or Miller in creating a marriage.
With coaching changes continuing to reshuffle staffs and rosters, it may not be until late December or January that a true target becomes clear here. However, it’d be surprising if South Carolina doesn’t bring in at least one new signal-caller who’s not already on the radar.
Wide receiver
Josh Vann had a hell of a season, but South Carolina needs to find other playmakers in the passing game come next fall.
Dakereon Joyner was a standout talent in high school and is an outstanding personality in the locker room, but it’s hard to imagine things fully coming together for him at this point in his career.
Jalen Brooks looked like a legitimate option, too, but he hasn’t been with the team for close to two months to deal with what Beamer called a “personal matter.” It’s unclear if he’ll ever rejoin the team.
The Gamecocks will bring in three-star Texas prospect Landon Samson, who the staff is high on as potential contributor. In-state product Kylic Horton is listed as a receiver, but could end up a couple different places at the college level.
Even if Vann does decide to come back — which is no guarantee considering he walked during senior day festivities ahead of the Clemson game — the Gamecocks have a glaring need at receiver. This may be priority No. 1 as the transfer portal begins to fill up with potential options.
Linebacker
Give defensive coordinator Clayton White and his staff a ton of credit. Losing Sherrod Greene Week 3 at Georgia could’ve been a death knell for the South Carolina defense. Instead, White and his crew dealt with the loss and held on for a really impressive first season defensively in Columbia.
Debo Williams was a solid contributor as a special-teamer and in spurts at linebacker. Mo Kaba wasn’t quite ready to take the reigns as a starter yet, but he feels like a guy poised for a big step forward next fall. Damani Staley filled in for Greene admirably, though he’s used up his eligibility.
Beamer left the door open for Greene to return next year earlier this fall. Kaba and Williams will both be back in the fold, while Brad Johnson said just a few weeks ago he hasn’t made up his mind on a return. There’s also reason to believe JUCO import Bam Martin-Scott and freshman Kolbe Fields could contribute next year.
Three-star linebacker Donovan Westmoreland — who USC flipped from Georgia — is currently the only linebacker committed to the Gamecocks in the 2022 cycle.
South Carolina was deathly thin at linebacker this fall and it’d be a shock if the Gamecocks don’t at least take a swing at shoring up the position this offseason.
This story was originally published December 6, 2021 at 8:00 AM.
