South Carolina football’s top offensive lineman entering transfer portal
South Carolina is losing another offensive lineman.
On Saturday, Gamecocks starting left tackle Josiah Thompson announced on social media that he was entering the transfer portal, which officially opened on Friday. He is the seventh scholarship offensive lineman (and eighth O-lineman overall) to announce their intentions to leave the program.
“This was not an easy decision, but I’m confident it’s the right step for my growth as a player and as a person,” Thompson wrote in a social media graphic announcing his departure.
Thompson, a former five-star prospect from Dillon, was one of the rare offensive-line recruits who jumped in immediately and contributed. He started 12 games at left tackle as a true freshman in 2024 and was a freshman All-SEC selection by the league’s coaches. In 2025, he again started a dozen games at left tackle but didn’t make the developmental jump some thought he would.
After allowing six sacks as a true freshman, he allowed seven in 2025 and committed more penalties, according to Pro Football Focus. His PFF grades from 2024 to 2025 are almost identical, with his pass-blocking numbers taking a slight downturn.
Still, Thompson’s departure is a shock two years after he and edge Dylan Stewart were the gems of South Carolina’s 2024 recruiting class. The former South Carolina Mr. Football selection, Thompson was supposed to be the cornerstone of the Gamecocks’ O-Line turnaround. Instead, USC got worse up front during the 2025 season.
The Gamecocks will now return just two of the nine offensive linemen who started for them in 2025: freshman Shed Sarratt Jr. (started six games at LG and three at RT) and senior Nolan Hay (started two games at center).
In other words: South Carolina in 2026 is going to rely heavily on the offensive linemen it brings it from the transfer portal and, possibly, youngsters like Sarratt or four-star true freshman Darius Gray.
South Carolina football: Transfer portal losses
Accounting only for scholarship players
- QB Air Noland
- TE Michael Smith
- WR Brian Rowe Jr.
- WR Vandrevius Jacobs
- OL Josiah Thompson
- OL Boaz Stanley
- OL Rodney Newsom Jr.
- OL Nick Sharpe
- OL Trovon Baugh
- OL Cason Henry
- OL Tree Babalade
- DL Zavion Hardy
- LB Jaron Willis
- LB Taeshawn Alston
- DB Myles Norwood
This story was originally published January 3, 2026 at 12:06 PM.