Joshua Simon’s homecoming is good news for South Carolina’s tight end room

At the end of the 2022 season, South Carolina’s football program looked like it had a good handle on the tight end position with Jaheim Bell and Austin Stogner still having eligibility remaining.

But both decided to transfer — Bell went to Florida State, while Stogner headed back to Oklahoma after a one-year stint with the Gamecocks.

That left the tight end room completely empty outside of position coach Jody Wright, and the Gamecocks knew they had to quickly turn to the transfer portal. They added several new faces, with the highest-profile roster addition being former Arkansas tight end Trey Knox, who had previously played in new offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains’ scheme with the Razorbacks.

Another name that surfaced but with a little less notoriety was Joshua Simon from Western Kentucky.

Simon was a steady four-year performer for the Hilltoppers, but he saw an opportunity to play in the SEC and, maybe more importantly, a chance to return close to home. The 6-foot-4, 238-pound graduate transfer is from nearby Dalzell and prepped at Crestwood High School.

“I had an opportunity at Western Kentucky, I graduated, did what I had to do and then I was looking for something different,” Simon said Aug. 3 at South Carolina’s on-campus media day. “I hit the portal and South Carolina reached out to me. It’s the SEC, it’s the best conference to play in and it’s back home. My mama was on me bad, so I came back home.”

Simon amassed 86 receptions for 1,146 yards and 16 touchdowns in his career. He played in just one game in 2021 due to a season-ending injury in the opener.

His journey back to Columbia was aided by a few factors. Defensive coordinator Clayton White was at Western Kentucky when Simon arrived. White reached out when Simon entered the portal.

“White recruited me to WKU, so we had a relationship,” Simon said. “He called me up and said there was nobody in the tight end room. I felt like it was a good decision to make.”

Wright recapped the process of getting Simon on campus. He saw a guy who didn’t mind playing in the box and who can stretch the field with his speed and length coming from the tight end position.

“Clayton White and (former USC assistant coach) Jimmy Lindsey had recruited him when they were at Western Kentucky, which was great,” Wright said. “First time I talked to him, you could tell he was a humble young man. He’s one of those guys that played everything in high school and people had to project on what he would be. Credit to WKU for finding him and sticking with him. But we’re glad to have him.”

Simon and Knox didn’t know each other before this summer, but a lot is expected of the two. Quarterback Spencer Rattler has spoken highly of both and seemed to have a connection with Simon during the spring. It was during the spring that Simon earned the respect of his teammates and was awarded the Gamecock Toughness Award for the offense.

On Monday, Simon reeled in a leaping touchdown catch during the Gamecocks’ practice.

You can count Knox as one of the guys who’s been impressed by what he’s seen in his tight end teammate.

“We were in the new person orientation and this big, long guy comes and sits next to me. I was like, ‘Who is this?’ He introduced himself and I thought, ‘Oh, you’re the guy from WKU,’ ” Knox said. “Ever since then, we’ve hit it off. I’m glad he’s in the room. He’s dynamic with the football in his hand. He’s a stud. He’s a great football player and even a better person, and that’s all you can ask for.”

Simon was recruited by South Carolina out of Crestwood but never offered a scholarship. He has attended games at Williams-Brice Stadium before, but he knows things will be different now.

“I’ve been to a couple of South Carolina games, but it’s been a while since I’ve been in that atmosphere and to have the best fans in the country and to come out to ‘Sandstorm,’ ” Simon said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

South Carolina scholarship tight ends

• Connor Cox, freshman
• Reid Mikeska, freshman
• Nick Elksnis, RS freshman transfer
• Trey Knox, grad transfer
• Joshua Simon, grad transfer