Five South Carolina football transfers poised to make an impact this season
Much of the momentum that South Carolina football brings into the 2026 football season is the product of what coach Shane Beamer and his staff did in the offseason.
Following a 4-8 season, the Gamecocks had no choice but to inject their roster with instant talent. The result was a 25-person transfer-portal class that reshaped the team and sparked hope for a 2026 turnaround.
So who are some of the new faces that could be instrumental to an improved 2026? Here are the Top 5:
5. OL Carter Miller (UCF)
This could have been any one of the 10 (!) offensive linemen South Carolina snagged out of the portal in hopes of fielding an above-average O-line for the first time since 2022 (USC has allowed 40 or more sacks in each of the last three seasons).
But Miller, who started nine games at center for UCF last season, was selected because of the massive need he fills.
Last season, amidst a flurry of changes on the offensive line, the Gamecocks switched their starting center four different times, mostly due to poor play. It seemed like South Carolina was always searching for its answer at center, and never finding that permanent solution kept the Gamecocks from every having a chance at keeping QB LaNorris Sellers upright.
If Miller, a stout pass-blocker, can change that, it’ll go a long way in the Gamecocks turning their O-line around.
4. DB Quay’sheed Scott (Kentucky)
Scott was the only transfer defensive back that South Carolina landed out of the portal, which in understandable. The Gamecocks, which bring back starting CBs Vicari Swain and Judge Collier along with starting safety Peyton Williams, didn’t need much reinforcement in the secondary.
But Scott, a Palmetto State native, was too good to pass up and will likely compete for the starting nickelback job left vacant by Jalon Kilgore.
As a sophomore for Kentucky last season, the 5-foot-11, 208-pound Marion native started in 11 games — seven as a CB and four as a safety — racking up 39 tackles and one interception. But he was phenomenal in pass coverage and could be a weapon for the Gamecocks against slot receivers.
3. WR Nitro Tuggle (Purdue)
It seems most likely that South Carolina’s No. 1 receiver next year will be Nyck Harbor, who led the Gamecocks in receiving yards last season and has only improved throughout his college career.
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But don’t count out Tuggle to become one of Sellers’ favorite targets.
A 6-foot-1, 195-pound junior who started his career at Georgia before playing at Purdue last season, Tuggle was a big-play machine last season, catching 34 passes for 500 yards and four touchdowns.
In a wide receiver room that lost Vandrevius Jacobs and Brian Rowe Jr. to the portal, Tuggle has the opportunity to be a major part of the Gamecocks’ passing game.
2. Edge Caleb Herring (Tennessee)
If Herring ends up winning one of the starting edge jobs, precedent would lead you to believe that he’ll have a monster season. Why? Well, because he’ll be starting opposite Dylan Stewart, and the last two guys to hold that spot — Kyle Kennard (2024) and Bryan Thomas Jr. (2025) — finished with career seasons.
And Herring has the profile to continue the trend.
A former Top-100 recruit, Herring spent three seasons playing for Tennessee, highlighted by his junior campaign in 2025. Last year, Herring finished with 14 tackles, 6 tackles for loss and four sacks.
A 6-5, 245-pounder with SEC experience, Herring should have no problem putting up stats if he can win the starting job and Stewart stays healthy.
1. OL Jacarrius Peak (NC State)
The health of Peak, who was injured this spring playing basketball, will become a heavily-followed talking point as September nears. But Beamer has indicated that he expects Peak to suit up for the Gamecocks early in the year, if not the season opener on Sept. 5.
Certainly, the Gamecocks will be fine without Peak for a few weeks. Perhaps Shed Sarratt or one of the transfers could shift over and play well. But make no mistake about it: South Carolina’s best offensive line includes Peak, who will be the Gamecocks’ starting left tackle when healthy.
Peak was the crown jewel of the Gamecocks’ portal class, a 300-pound veteran who allowed only three sacks in nearly 500 pass-protection snaps last year. If he can stay healthy this season, that will go a long way in turning around South Carolina’s offensive line.
