Just one day after officially joining the South Carolina Gamecocks, wide receiver Jayden Gibson is making headlines - and not for his on-field potential.
A report surfaced Thursday revealing that Gibson, who recently transferred from Oklahoma, was arrested back in May while still with the Sooners. The charge, reportedly related to a domestic violence incident, stems from an alleged altercation in Las Vegas where police said they found evidence of “fresh injuries” on his girlfriend. The incident flew under the radar at the time, likely because it occurred out of state, away from Oklahoma’s public records.
Despite the serious nature of the report, South Carolina - led by head coach Shane Beamer, who previously worked with Gibson at OU - was reportedly aware of the situation prior to bringing him into the program via the transfer portal. That detail adds an important layer to this story: South Carolina didn’t walk into this blind. They knew what they were signing up for.
Gibson’s exit from Oklahoma had already raised eyebrows. After a promising 2023 season where he logged 14 catches for 375 yards and five touchdowns, he was poised to break out in 2024.
But a knee injury during fall camp wiped out his season before it began. Then came more setbacks in 2025, with injuries continuing to keep him off the field.
By midseason, he was out of the program entirely.
On October 16, Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables made it official: “Jayden’s no longer with the team.” No elaboration, no details - just a clean break.
That silence, of course, sparked speculation. Rumors swirled that Gibson’s departure wasn’t just about injuries.
But earlier this month, Gibson pushed back hard against that narrative. On January 5, shortly after committing to South Carolina, he took to social media to set the record straight - at least from his perspective.
“the ONLY reason OU and I parted ways was because of my injuries. anything else being spread is false information from people who don’t know any details , just what they see on there phones,” Gibson posted on X.
It was a direct response to the whispers that had followed him since leaving Norman. But now, with this report of a May arrest coming to light, the off-field questions are no longer just rumor mill chatter.
What’s clear is that Gibson’s journey has taken a complicated turn. On the field, he’s a 6-foot-5 receiver with big-play ability and the kind of upside that had Oklahoma fans excited just a year ago. Off the field, he’s now dealing with the weight of serious allegations and the scrutiny that comes with them - especially in the SEC spotlight.
South Carolina’s decision to bring him in, knowing the circumstances, suggests the staff believes in giving Gibson a second chance. But that choice will come under the microscope if more details emerge or if Gibson finds himself in more trouble.
For now, the focus shifts to how Gibson handles the next chapter - both as a player and as a person. The talent is there.
The opportunity is there. But the path forward just got a lot more complicated.