Just one day after officially joining the South Carolina Gamecocks, wide receiver Jayden Gibson finds himself at the center of controversy following a report that he was arrested last May while still with the Oklahoma Sooners.
According to reports, Gibson was arrested in Las Vegas on a domestic violence-related charge. Police reportedly found evidence of “fresh injuries” on his girlfriend at the time of the incident.
The arrest, which took place outside Oklahoma, flew under the radar until now-largely because it didn’t appear in Oklahoma’s public records. Despite the serious nature of the report, South Carolina was reportedly aware of the situation before bringing Gibson in from the transfer portal.
This development adds another layer to what’s already been a winding road for Gibson. The former four-star recruit left Oklahoma in October after a stretch of injuries and limited playing time. His departure came with little fanfare-Sooners head coach Brent Venables confirmed it plainly: “Jayden’s no longer with the team,” he said on October 16.
Gibson, for his part, pushed back against any rumors suggesting his exit was tied to off-field issues. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) earlier this month, he made it clear that injuries-not disciplinary matters-were the reason for his departure.
“The ONLY reason OU and I parted ways was because of my injuries,” Gibson wrote. “Anything else being spread is false information from people who don’t know any details, just what they see on their phones.”
Injuries have indeed been a recurring theme in Gibson’s college career. After showing flashes of promise in 2023-14 catches for 375 yards and five touchdowns-he looked poised for a breakout in 2024.
But a season-ending knee injury in fall camp derailed that momentum. Then came another lost season in 2025, as Gibson remained sidelined before ultimately leaving the program midseason.
Now, with his arrest surfacing and his transfer to South Carolina official, Gibson’s journey takes another turn. The Gamecocks, led by Shane Beamer-who previously coached at Oklahoma-have taken a calculated risk by bringing in a player with both high upside and off-field questions. Whether Gibson can finally stay healthy and turn the page remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: all eyes will be on how this next chapter unfolds in Columbia.