Final academic update: Toure Boyd, Devante Covington

The wait for admission to South Carolina for defensive back signee Toure Boyd is over.

Boyd announced Thursday that he has been accepted into USC, the last hurdle to finally suiting up with the Gamecocks. He could be on the practice field as early as Saturday, according to a source.

“I am officially a South Carolina Gamecock!” he announced on Twitter.

Boyd, from Chaffey College in California, said he will take a plane to Columbia as soon as he can secure a ticket. That could be as early as Thursday evening, he said.

This past season Boyd had 80 tackles, 2 interceptions and he broke up 10 passes. He also blocked 4 kicks. He expects to play safety for the Gamecocks and wear No. 27.

Defensive end signee Devante Covington of Georgia Military College did not qualify and will not be with the Gamecocks, according to a source.

Cornerback signee Octavis Johnson of Homerville, Ga., did not qualify and is headed to prep school.

This story was originally published August 6, 2015 at 1:53 PM.