South Carolina losing veteran edge rusher to transfer portal
South Carolina football added to its defensive line on Thursday, but the team also lost a player to the transfer portal.
Senior edge rusher Desmond Umeozulu is entering the transfer portal, according to multiple media reports. Umeozulu’s news dropped hours after it was reported that Tennessee defensive end Caleb Herring would be signing with the Gamecocks.
Umeozulu played in 37 games over his time with the Gamecocks and made his first career start this season against Coastal Carolina. This year, Umeozulu had 19 tackles (2 for loss) and a sack against South Carolina State.
For his career, Umeozulu had 30 tackles (2.5 for loss) and 1.5 sacks.
Umeozulu was a highly regarded prospect coming out of C.H. Flowers High School in Maryland and was an Under-Armour All-American.
South Carolina football: Transfer portal losses
Accounting for scholarship players only ...
- QB Air Noland (Memphis)
- TE Michael Smith (Syracuse)
- WR Brian Rowe Jr. (UCLA)
- WR Vandrevius Jacobs (Miami)
- 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)
- OL Jatavius Shivers
- DE Desmond Umeozulu
- DL Zavion Hardy (Baylor)
- DL Jaylen Brown (LSU)
- LB Jaron Willis (Kansas)
- LB Taeshawn Alston
- DB Myles Norwood
This story was originally published January 16, 2026 at 8:44 AM.