Nearly 40 former South Carolina football players are scattered across the college game this season, and several of Shane Beamer’s ex-Gamecocks are carving out real roles at their new spots.
Some are already entrenched as starters. Others are giving their new teams steady snaps, while a few are still waiting for their first real break. Here’s where the transfer class stands in 2026, starting with the most recent wave.
Among the 2025 departures, Trovon Baugh has become a fixture at Texas A&M, starting all six games at right guard. He’ll get a familiar matchup on Nov. 7 when the Aggies visit USC.
Nick Sharpe has also locked down a starting job, opening all six games at guard for Michigan State and earning the team’s Offensive Playmaker of the Week nod against Western Michigan on Sept. 12.
Boaz Stanley has started all six games at tackle for Purdue, while Kam Pringle has started all five games this season for Syracuse.
A few other linemen have settled into smaller but still meaningful roles. Tree Babalade made his second start of the season on Saturday against Indiana and has appeared in six games for Nebraska.
Cason Henry has been in the mix all six games for Louisville, and Mac Walters has played in five games and made two starts for Appalachian State. Ryan Brubaker has appeared in two games for Virginia, while Jatavius Shivers has yet to get into a game for Purdue.
There’s also a mixed bag on the defensive side. Desmond Umeozulu has played in three games for Alabama and has six tackles, including one for loss, though he’s been out since the Florida State game on Sept. 19 with a turf toe.
Zavion Hardy has logged five games at Baylor and has four tackles, one for loss. Jaron Willis has appeared in five games for Kansas and has two tackles.
Taeshawn Alston has been one of the more productive edge pieces in this group, with seven games, nine tackles and 2.5 sacks at North Carolina Central.
In the skill group, Brian Rowe Jr. has made the biggest splash. He’s second on UCLA with 12 catches for 185 yards, and the Bruins are 5-0.
Vandrevius Jacobs has five receptions for 81 yards at Miami, along with a touchdown against Florida A&M on Sept. 10.
Air Noland has been efficient for Memphis, going 7 of 9 for 83 yards and two touchdowns in three appearances. Michael Smith has played in five games at Ole Miss with three catches for 16 yards and a touchdown against Vanderbilt on Oct.
- Emazon Littlejohn has one catch for eight yards in six games at Western Michigan, while Jaylen Brown has appeared in one game at LSU and has not made a tackle.
The 2024 transfer group has produced some of the most eye-catching numbers. Elijah Caldwell, now at Eastern Kentucky after a year at Georgia Military College, leads the Colonels with 25 catches for 285 yards and a touchdown.
Dante Reno has drawn national attention at Yale and, in three games this year, has thrown for 1,077 yards and 11 touchdowns. Wendell Gregory has been active at Kansas State with 19 tackles, 8.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks and four quarterback pressures.
Rondo Porter, the former Heathwood Hall standout, has 15 tackles, three for loss, and a sack in five games at Rutgers.
A few others from that class are settling in around the country. Connor Cox has appeared in six games for Virginia, with two starts and one catch for seven yards, after previous stops at North Carolina and elsewhere.
Debron Gatling has two catches for 54 yards and a touchdown in his second season at Georgia Tech. Tyshawn Russell has three catches for 32 yards at Syracuse, while Jamaal Whyce has played in five games at Baylor and made seven tackles.
Reid Mikeska has appeared in two games at Texas-Rio Grande Valley, and Emory Floyd has not played this season at Colorado because of injury.
The 2023 group also has a few names worth noting. Kajuan Banks has six tackles and a pass break-up at Tulane.
Grayson “Pup” Howard has 17 tackles in five games at South Florida. Grayson Mains has started five games at right guard for Temple.
Keenan Nelson Jr. has six tackles and a pass break-up for Georgia State. Donovan Westmoreland has yet to play this year at Kennesaw State because of injury.
Xzavier McLeod, once South Carolina Mr. Football, announced in August that he was “done with football” and “retired.”
In Other News...
Dylan Stewarts South Carolina Return Means More Than Just Playing Again
Dylan Stewarts return to the South Carolina football team came with more weight than a normal reinstatement. After an indefinite suspension from Shane Beamer for prior on-field conduct, Stewart had to work his way back by apologizing, cleaning up his behavior and showing growth away from the field as well, including strong work in the classroom. For a program that has leaned on Beamers emphasis on accountability, the process mattered almost as much as the result.
Stewarts response in the game against Florida gave the comeback immediate substance. He was active throughout the contest, finishing with five tackles, a sack and two forced fumbles, the kind of impact that reminds everyone why his return mattered to the Gamecocks in the first place. The bigger story now is whether this becomes more than a one-game redemption and a sign of steady progress from a player South Carolina still clearly needs. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Just Got A Needed Recruiting Boost After That Ugly Loss
Floridas Week 6 loss to South Carolina left the Gators sitting at 4-2 overall and 2-2 in the SEC, but the day still ended with a major recruiting lift. Five-star wide receiver Easton Royal flipped his commitment from Texas to Florida, giving the Gators a headline addition at a position that always draws attention in Gainesville.
Royal arrives with plenty of buzz as the top wide receiver in the 2027 class, and the move comes at a time when Florida could use some momentum beyond the field. His recruitment also appears to be nearing its finish, which means the Gators may not have to wait long to find out whether the commitment holds. [Read more 🡒]
South Carolina Suddenly Has A Cornerback Decision Before Tennessee
Judge Collier leaving early against Florida forced South Carolina to sort through its cornerback depth on the fly, and Damarcus Leach ended up handling the bulk of the work at the position. The quick reshuffle put extra pressure on the secondary, but it also gave the Gamecocks a clearer look at how Leach responds when the snaps pile up.
Shane Beamer came away praising Leachs performance and pointed to the need for a third cornerback to step into a bigger role, especially with Tennessee next on the schedule. Clayton White responded by adjusting coverage to give the corners more help, and that kind of mid-game flexibility could matter again if South Carolina is going to get through the next stretch without further trouble on the back end. [Read more 🡒]