South Carolina transfer LB Stone Blanton commits to home-state SEC school
Just a few weeks after he hit the transfer portal, former South Carolina linebacker Stone Blanton is headed back to his home state.
The former four-star linebacker committed to Mississippi State on Friday.
South Carolina lost 21 to the portal this cycle. Blanton is the fourth transfer to land at another SEC school along with wide receiver Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. (Ole Miss), defensive tackle Xzavier McLeod (Georgia) and linebacker Grayson “Pup” Howard (Florida).
Once Blanton entered the transfer portal, Mississippi State seemed like the likely destination. Blanton grew up in Jackson, Miss. as a Bulldogs season-ticket holder sitting inside Davis Wade Stadium every Saturday.
He was originally committed to the Mississippi State baseball team and was being recruited by former football coach Mike Leach to suit up on the gridiron, too.
“I think Stone would have had a lot of pressure to play both at Mississippi State,” his father, Shane, told The State in November. “Stone called (MSU baseball coach Chris Lemonis) back before he called Shane (Beamer) and said, ‘Thanks for believing in me but I’m gonna do this.”
Shane Blanton continued: “It was his decision. It was what he wanted. He thought it was the best coaches for him. And I think he was right. It’s been a good fit.”
Blanton came into South Carolina as the highest-ranked prospect in the Gamecocks’ 2022 signing class. He played in almost every game as a freshman before starting in every contest this past season, racking up 52 tackles, a sack and a pick-6 that saved USC against Jacksonville State.
With the news that linebackers Blanton and Howard are moving on to other SEC programs, the Gamecocks did get some aid on Thursday, notching a pledge from Charlotte transfer Demetrius Knight.
SOUTH CAROLINA PORTAL LOSSES
QB Tanner Bailey
QB Colten Gauthier
RB Mario Anderson (Memphis)
OL JonDarius Morgan (UAB)
OL Grayson Mains
OL Jaylen Nichols
WR Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. (Ole Miss)
WR O’Mega Blake (East Carolina)
WR Landon Samson
WR Zavier Short (Appalachian State)
WR Kylic Horton
TE Kamron Sandlin
DL Xzavier McLeod (Georgia)
DL Felix Hixon
DL D’Andre Martin (Charlotte)
DL Donovan Westmoreland (Kennesaw State)
LB Grayson “Pup” Howard (Florida)
LB Stone Blanton (Mississippi State)
DB Kajuan Banks (South Florida)
DB Isaiah Norris
K Mitch Jeter (Notre Dame)
This story was originally published January 5, 2024 at 12:53 PM.
