South Carolina lands another transfer OL out of the transfer portal
South Carolina continues to boost its offensive line depth.
On Tuesday, the Gamecocks earned a commitment from Florida Atlantic transfer OL Kamaar Bell, who will join coach Shane Beamer’s program as a redshirt senior with one year of eligibility remaining.
“I chose South Carolina because I felt like that was the place I wanted to continue to grow as a player and as a man,” Bell told The State. “This amazing place has everything that I need to be successful. Going into the transfer portal I was looking for a program that competes at a high level and a place that has a bond that I wanted to be a part of.”
Bell is the third offensive lineman the Gamecocks have picked up this offseason, joining Oklahoma transfer Aaryn “AJ” Parks and N.C. Central transfer Torricelli Simpkins III.
Bell said the South Carolina coaching staff envisions him playing guard but he could move over to center if the Gamecocks need him there.
“I describe my game as hard nose, physical, and the ability to not give up on a play,” he said.
Bell, a 6-foot-2, 300-pound Georgia native, is no stranger to the SEC. A three-star prospect out of high school, Bell turned down offers from Alabama and Florida State and committed to Auburn under then-coach Gus Malzahn. After two seasons on the Plains, Bell had played in just one game and decided to transfer.
In his three seasons at FAU, Bell started nearly every game for the Owls, mainly playing guard. In 2023, FAU was one of just nine teams in America to start the same offensive line for all 12 regular-season games.
While Bell stood next to the same guys for months, South Carolina was mixing and matching offensive linemen like pizza toppings. Because of a bevy of injuries that, at one time, had impacted 10 South Carolina linemen, the Gamecocks did duplicate a starting offensive line until their 10th game.
With the additions of Bell, Simpkins and Parks, it seems South Carolina is trying to infuse some experience into an offensive line room loaded with exciting young talent, including a trio of freshman from the Palmetto State.
SOUTH CAROLINA TRANSFER PORTAL ADDITIONS
- QB Davis Beville (Oklahoma)
- QB Robby Ashford (Auburn)
- RB Raheim “Rocket” Sanders (Arkansas)
- RB Oscar Adaway III (North Texas)
- RB Jawarn Howell (S.C. State)
- WR Jared Brown (Coastal Carolina)
- WR Ahmari Huggins-Bruce (Louisville)
OL Kamaar Bell (FAU)
- OL Torricelli Simpkins III (North Carolina Central)
- DL Deandre Jules (Pitt)
- LB Demetrius Knight (Charlotte)
- LB Bangally Kamara (Pitt)
- DB Gerald Kilgore (Tennessee Tech)
This story was originally published January 16, 2024 at 3:21 PM.
