South Carolina football player dismissed from team after recent arrest
Defensive lineman Davonte Miles is no longer a member of the South Carolina football program, a university spokesperson told The State on Thursday.
The news comes after Miles was arrested Tuesday on a felony charge of possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
“After smelling the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle during the traffic stop, a search was conducted of the vehicle,” the Richland County Sheriff’s Department wrote in a news release. “During the search, approximately 20 individual bags of green plant material consistent with marijuana were located inside the vehicle.”
Deputies had initially conducted a traffic stop on Miles’ vehicle Tuesday afternoon near Williams-Brice Stadium for an “improper display of vehicle tag” and a window tint violation.
The sheriff’s office also wrote that “a firearm was also located in the search and seized due to its proximity to narcotics.”
Miles was briefly jailed Tuesday afternoon at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center before posting bond. He was no longer in jail as of Wednesday morning.
Miles, a redshirt senior, played for Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks after transferring in from Bowling Green. He appeared in 11 of 12 games in 2025 and had six tackles and a tackle for loss for USC as a reserve.
Miles, 22, was also one of three players who missed South Carolina’s home game against Oklahoma for “a violation of team standards,” Beamer said in October. Beamer didn’t give any specifics on why the players had been suspended.
South Carolina begins spring practice on March 4.
Miles: ‘No excuses for the decisions I made’
A few hours after USC announced Miles had been dismissed from the team, the defensive tackle released a lengthy statement on social media apologizing for his arrest and taking accountability for his actions.
“There are no excuses for the decisions I made, and I understand that my actions did not meet the standard expected of a student-athlete at the University of South Carolina,” Miles wrote in a statement posted to X.
Miles apologized to fans for bringing “negative attention” to the program, to his program for causing a distraction and to Beamer and South Carolina defensive line coach Travian Robertson for giving him an opportunity at USC.
“I understand and respect the decision that was made,” Miles said of his dismissal. “Being a Gamecock is a privilege and I did not uphold that privilege the way I should have. ... My love and respect for this program remain.”
It’s unclear whether Miles will play college football elsewhere in 2026. He promised that his arrest on possession with intent to distribute marijuana would be “a turning point in my life.”
“I am sorry, and I will work every day to prove that this moment does not define my future,” Miles said.
This story was originally published February 12, 2026 at 11:35 AM.
