South Carolina, Shane Beamer add another piece from the transfer portal
South Carolina has added another depth piece to its offensive line.
Mercer transfer Nigajuan “Ni” Mansell announced his commitment to USC on Tuesday after visiting Columbia last week. He’s expected to be a preferred walk-on.
Mansell played in 20 games for the Bears over between the 2020-21 spring season and the 2021 fall season. The Westside High School product is originally from Anderson and was also named an honorable mention all-state honoree by the state’s coaches.
Being a preferred walk-on guarantees Mansell a roster spot without any financial help or a scholarship. It also allows him to enroll before August and begin working out with the team.
South Carolina could use some added depth on its offensive line following the injury to expected starting left tackle Jakai Moore and the departures of starters Eric Douglas, Jovaughn Gwyn and Dylan Wonnum.
Head coach Shane Beamer confirmed Moore suffered a “pretty significant” injury during last month’s Garnet and Black spring game and he’s expected to miss the start of the season.
USC has made a handful of additions to bolster the line already this offseason, including former Yale standout Nick Gariulo and Western Illinois import Sidney Fugar. Gargiulo is expected to compete for the starting center spot with Vershon Lee, though he could end up in one of the starting guard slots. Fugar could end up helping to replace Moore for however long he is unable to play.
The Gamecocks also brought in a freshman offensive line class that includes four-stars Markee Anderson and Oluwatosin “Tree” Babalade and three-stars Trovon Baugh and Jatavius Shivers.
South Carolina 2023 transfer class
- RB Mario Anderson, Newberry
- TE Nick Elksnis, Florida
- TE Trey Knox, Arkansas
- TE Joshua Simon, Western Kentucky
- OL Nick Gargiulo, Yale
- OL Sidney Fugar, Western Illinois
- OL Jaxon Hughes, Charlotte (PWO)
- OL Ni Mansell, Mercer (PWO)
- LB Jaron Willis, Ole Miss
- WR Eddie Lewis, Memphis
This story was originally published May 16, 2023 at 2:14 PM.
