Former South Carolina receiver lands with national champion finalist squad
Two former South Carolina receivers found new homes on Saturday.
Vandrevius Jacobs committed to national championship finalist Miami, while Brian Rowe is headed out West to play for UCLA and new coach Bob Chesney, according to multiple media reports.
Miami will play Indiana in the national championship game on Jan. 19.
Jacobs transferred to South Carolina ahead of the 2024 season and played sparingly in year one. But he broke out in 2025, catching a team-high 32 passes for 548 yards and four touchdowns. For most of the season, the redshirt sophomore was South Carolina’s No. 2 pass catcher, behind only Nyck Harbor.
Jacobs is a Florida native and began his college career at Florida State.
Jacobs might not be the only former Gamecocks headed to Miami. Former USC offensive lineman Josiah Thompson was visiting there Saturday, he told On3’s Chad Simmons.
Rowe was part of a highly-touted receiving group from the Gamecocks’ Class of 2025 recruiting class, which included Donovan Murph, Lex Cyrus, Jordon Gidron, Malik Clark and Jayden Sellers. Murph, Sellers and Rowe saw the most playing time from the group.
Rowe caught 19 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown this season. But he was suspended along with two other players for the Oklahoma game for “a violation of team standards,” head coach Shane Beamer said after the game.
Rowe hardly touched the field in the season finale against Clemson.
South Carolina transfer portal departures
Accounting only for scholarship players. New school in parentheses.
QB Air Noland
TE Michael Smith (Syracuse)
WR Brian Rowe Jr. (UCLA)
WR Vandrevius Jacobs (Miami)
OL Josiah Thompson
OL Boaz Stanley (Purdue)
OL Rodney Newsom Jr.
OL Nick Sharpe (Michigan State)
OL Trovon Baugh (Texas A&M)
OL Cason Henry (Louisville)
OL Tree Babalade (Nebraska)
DL Zavion Hardy (Baylor)
DL Jaylen Brown (LSU)
LB Jaron Willis (Kansas)
LB Taeshawn Alston
DB Myles Norwood
This story was originally published January 10, 2026 at 8:44 PM.
