South Carolina tight end leaves team, will enter transfer portal
South Carolina is losing a tight end from its program.
Sophomore tight end Michael Smith has left the Gamecocks football team with the intentions to redshirt and later enter the transfer portal, he confirmed to The State on Tuesday. Pete Nakos of On3 initially reported the story.
Smith, a former four-star prospect from Savannah, Georgia, played in 12 games for South Carolina as a true freshman in 2024. Alongside starter Josh Simon, Smith started in seven games, catching 10 passes for over 100 yards.
Yet, his production has dipped in 2025. He’s played in just four games, catching just two passes while falling behind Jordan Dingle and Brady Hunt on the depth chart.
By making this decision now — after only playing in four games — he will be able to redshirt this season and enter the transfer portal with three years of eligibility remaining.
Smith’s departure shouldn’t impact the Gamecocks’ tight end room too much — both Dingle and Hunt have emerged as South Carolina’s top tight end duo.
But it might mean more playing time for Maurice Brown, who’s taken almost the same amount of snaps as Smith this year.
Behind Hunt, Dingle and Brown, the Gamecocks tight end room includes just one other scholarship player: true freshman Mike Tyler.
The Gamecocks also one tight end committed to their 2026 recruiting class in three-star Jamel Howse from Newberry.
Michael Smith snap counts this year
According to Pro Football Focus (includes tight end and special teams:
- Week 1: 4
- Week 2: 33
- Week 3: 20
- Week 4: 0
- Week 5: 21
This story was originally published October 7, 2025 at 2:45 PM.
