South Carolina lands transfer tight end commitment, former local standout
South Carolina has landed its first tight end from the transfer portal this offseason.
On Sunday, 247 Sports reported that UCF TE Max Drag has committed to South Carolina.
A Palmetto State native, Drag played his sophomore season of high school football at Columbia’s Ben Lippen, but spent his junior and seniors seasons at Chapin High, where he was most-productive as a defensive end. During his senior year in 2022, Drag totaled 35 tackles and seven tackles for loss.
As a three-star prospect, Drag signed with Appalachian State but struggled to contribute as a pass catcher. In two years with the Mountaineers — 2023 (redshirt) and 2024 — Drag played 133 snaps but caught just one pass, an 11-yard touchdown against Old Dominion.
But not long after App State’s 2025 spring game, Drag entered the transfer portal and landed at UCF. He played in 11 games for the Golden Knights last season (starting one) and was used heavily as an extra blocker in the run game.
Per Pro Football Focus, Drag blocked on 143 rushing plays and ran a route on 48 snaps. He finished the year with three catches for 19 yards.
Now, he’ll join a South Carolina Gamecocks squad that lacks depth in the tight end room. The Gamecocks only bring back two tight end contributors from 2025: veterans Brady Hunt and Maurice Brown II.
South Carolina’s 2026 transfer portal class
- QB Lucian Anderson III (Bowling Green Sate)
- RB Sam Williams-Dixon (Ohio State)
- RB Jabree Coleman (Penn State)
- RB Christian Clark (Texas)
- WR Jayden Gibson (Oklahoma)
- WR Nitro Tuggle (Purdue)
- WR Charly Mullaly (Holy Cross)
- TE Max Drag (UCF)
- OL Dayne Arnett (Ferris State)
- OL Carter Miller (UCF)
- OL Jacarrius Peak (NC State)
- OL Emmanuel Poku (East Carolina)
- OL Hank Purvis (Purdue)
- OL Seth Smith (Northern Arizona)
- OL Armando Nieves (New Mexico State)
- K Upton Bellenfant (Texas Tech)
- LS Emmet Rhoades (Western Carolina)
- DL Jordan Thomas (Georgia)
- DL Tomiwa Durojaiye (Illinois)
- DL Kelby Collins (Alabama)
- DE Drew Collins (Arkansas State)
- DE Caleb Herring (Tennessee)
- DB Quay’Sheed Scott (Kentucky)
This story was originally published January 18, 2026 at 3:50 PM.
