South Carolina’s Chris Moody to transfer | The State

Defensive back Chris Moody will transfer from South Carolina and play his final season of eligibility elsewhere, he announced Tuesday.

Moody, a redshirt junior from McDonough, Ga., was recognized in November as part the Gamecocks’ senior day festivities, but left the door open to returning in 2016.

“I was considering coming back,” he said. “When I walked on senior day, I wasn’t all the way sold.”

He saw action in 37 games over three seasons with seven starts and 48 career tackles. This season, he played in all 12 games, recording four tackles and a pass breakup.

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Moody was part of Steve Spurrier’s 2012 signing class.

He is set to graduate from USC in May and will be eligible to play right away as a graduate transfer.

Moody doesn’t have a target list of options yet, but knows he’ll take plenty of happy memories with him from his Gamecocks experience.

“The time we beat Georgia in 2012, and the game where we beat Clemson to extend the streak to five as a team. We all ran into the student section both times,” he said. “The fans were the absolute best. Most importantly, though, I’ll miss Coach Spurrier. Always grateful for the chance to play on such a big stage and for someone of his pedigree.”

SPRING ROSTER ONLINE

USC has a tentative spring football roster online, with early enrollees Bryan Edwards, C.J. Freeman, Brandon McIlwain, Chris Smith and Keir Thomas listed but without numbers. The rest of the changes from the final roster of 2015:

DEPARTED SENIORS

Shon Carson, Shamier Jeffery, Carlton Heard, Cedrick Cooper, Landon Ard, T.J. Gurley, Garrison Gist, Gerald Dixon, Phillip Dukes, Brandon Shell, Will Sport, Mike Matulis, Jerell Adams, Gerald Dixon Jr.

DEPARTED UNDERCLASSMEN

Chris Moody (transfer), Pharoh Cooper (NFL), Devin Potter, Cody Waldrop (medical), Clayton Stadnik, Sean Odom, Connor Redmond (medical)

POSITION CHANGES

Strong safety D.J. Smith is now listed as a free safety

Spur Darin Smalls is now listed as a cornerback

Defensive tackle Dexter Wideman is now listed as a defensive end

Defensive tackle Dante Sawyer is now listed as a defensive end