Gamecocks WR Jalen Brooks back with program after lengthy absence, sources say
Receiver Jalen Brooks is back with the South Carolina football program, multiple university sources told The State on Wednesday.
Brooks has been away from the program for undisclosed reasons since early October. He was removed from USC’s online roster on March 15. He was not listed on the official roster at the time of publication, though his official bio was active and available online. USC’s bio pages are typically inactive when a player leaves the team.
“I spoke with Jalen last week and he’s been in constant contact with me,” head coach Shane Beamer said in March. “But right now he’s not part of the program at this point.”
Beamer also addressed Brooks’ status last week while speaking at a Gamecock Club event in Florence.
“We’ll address that as we get into the month of June,” Beamer said a week ago. “We should have some more clarity on that very soon.”
Brooks has been a part of the program since the Gamecocks opened offseason workouts this week, a source with knowledge of the situation told The State.
The North Carolina native played in 12 games for the Gamecocks, recording 281 yards receiving and a touchdown on 25 catches following his transfer from Wingate and Tarleton State ahead of the 2020 season.
Brooks joins a South Carolina receiving corps that should be noticeably deeper than last year’s crop. The Gamecocks already added James Madison standout Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. and Arkansas State import Corey Rucker, both of whom are expected to be able to contribute.
Beamer’s squad will also return leading 2021 pass-catcher Josh Vann, do-it-all tight end/wide back Jaheim Bell, slot receiver Dakereon Joyner and big-bodied option Xavier Legette.
It wasn’t immediately known what jersey number Brooks will wear. He previously wore No. 3, but Wells took that number this spring.
South Carolina finished Beamer’s first fall as head coach with a 7-6 record, including wins over Auburn and Florida. USC concluded the year with a 38-21 win over North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
The 2022 campaign opens on Sept. 4 with a home game against Georgia State, whose head coach is ex-Gamecocks assistant Shawn Elliott.
South Carolina 2022 football schedule
This story was originally published June 1, 2022 at 6:08 PM.
