South Carolina lands first offensive lineman out of transfer portal
For the first time this offseason, South Carolina has landed an offensive lineman from the transfer portal.
On Thursday through his Instagram, North Carolina Central transfer Torricelli Simpkins III committed to South Carolina. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound Charlotte native will join the Gamecocks with just one year of eligibility remaining.
What we learned last season — when the Gamecocks snagged Yale transfer OL Nick Gargiulo and Sidney Fugar from Western Illinois — is that USC coach Shane Beamer values experience with transfer portal linemen. The Gamecocks are picky. They want someone who can contribute right away.
Simpkins seems to fit that bill. In three seasons at North Carolina Central, he started all 34 games for the Eagles and was named the MEAC’s Offensive Lineman of the Year after his junior season.
The announcement also continues an offseason trend of MEAC stars ending up in Columbia. In December, South Carolina State running back Jawarn Howell, the 2023 MEAC Rookie of the Year, committed to the Gamecocks after rushing for over 80 yards a game as a freshman.
Simpkins will be an experienced presence in an offensive line room that will be full of youth. The Gamecocks have signed seven prep linemen in the past two recruiting classes while bringing in just three linemen from the portal over that span.
This story was originally published January 4, 2024 at 2:44 PM.
