South Carolina signs 6-foot-7 transfer offensive lineman from Conference USA
South Carolina has added a seventh offensive lineman from the transfer portal.
On Saturday night, 247 Sports reported that New Mexico State OL Armando Nieves had signed a deal with the Gamecocks.
As a redshirt junior for the Aggies in 2025, Nieves started 10 games at right tackle, playing over 600 snaps.
Per Pro Football Focus, the 6-foot-7, 315-pound Phoenix native allowed six sacks and 19 quarterback hurries. PFF gave him a rating of 51.2 for his pass blocking and 59.6 for run blocking.
Prior to getting to New Mexico State, Nieves played in four games for Hutchinson Community College and was a part of the Blue Dragons’ team that won the NJCAA National Championship.
The addition of Nieves bolsters a new-look offensive line room under new OL coach Randy Clements that has now added seven transfers.
South Carolina’s 2026 transfer portal class
- QB Lucian Anderson III (Bowling Green State)
- 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)
- 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 17, 2026 at 6:54 PM.
