What South Carolina’s signing day haul tell us about transfer portal priorities

If you want to know where South Carolina is going to put its focus in the transfer portal, first take a look at what the team did Wednesday.

 

During the first day of the early signing period, the Gamecocks signed 25 players in the Class of 2026. Here is a breakdown by position.

 

• Quarterback: 1
• Running back: 0
• Wide receiver: 5
• Tight end: 1
• Offensive line: 2
• Defensive tackle: 3
• Edge: 3
• Linebacker: 4
• Defensive back: 3
• Athlete: 1
• Kicker/snapper: 2

Is it really as simple at looking where the Gamecocks didn’t focus their attention through high school recruiting to know where they’ll focus when the transfer portal opens on Monday? Meaning, will South Carolina go in heavy on trying to acquire a running back as well as offensive and defensive linemen from the portal, since it didn’t sign many on Wednesday?

 

“You guys can look at our roster and say, ‘OK, where do they not sign someone?’ ” coach Shane Beamer said. “That’s going to be an answer. Where are they thin from a depth standpoint? That would be an answer.”

 

In short: Yes and no. Let’s take a look at what happened last year.

The Gamecocks signed two high school wideouts (Mazeo Bennett and Debron Gatling) and lost five to the transfer portal. As a result, South Carolina signed five receivers from the transfer portal — two more than any other position group.

 

Similarly, South Carolina didn’t snag a single high school defensive tackle last year. Then again, there wasn’t an immediate need, given the Gamecocks were returning its three top guys. But Beamer emphasized that group needed immediate depth, so South Carolina went and signed a pair of D-tackles from the portal.

 

So what should we glean from this season’s high-school haul? Are the Gamecocks going to go after a number of offensive linemen in the portal? Or do they feel there’s plenty of young talent in the room after signing seven high school linemen in the past two years, all of whom are still on the team?

 

Think about it: Of South Carolina’s 13 scholarship offensive linemen, all but four have at least two years of eligibility remaining. If South Carolina can grab two impact transfers — as it did with starting guards Torricelli Simpkins and Kamaar Bell — great. If not, there are plenty of bodies.

“I’ve told our players this,” Beamer said, “my job as the head coach is to always do what’s best for the South Carolina football program and to increase the competition at every single position. And this year’s no different.”

 

And then what about running back? Starter Rocket Sanders and veteran Juju McDowell are out of eligibility, and DJay Braswell has already entered the transfer portal. That leaves the Gamecocks with three scholarship tailbacks on their roster: Oscar Adaway III, Jawarn Howell and Matthew Fuller.

 

Will South Carolina go swoop up another star running back in the portal, as it did last year with Sanders?

 

“I don’t know if there’s a position out there that I would say, ‘We don’t want that guy from the portal,’ if he can help us,” Beamer said. “Are there positions that are at a higher priority? Yes, no question about it. But, we’re looking at everywhere to be able to try and make our team better.”