The South Carolina Gamecocks are bracing for another key departure, as freshman wide receiver Brian Rowe Jr. is expected to enter the transfer portal when it opens on January 2, 2026. For a team that just wrapped a tough 4-8 season, this is yet another hit to an already shifting roster.
Rowe, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound speedster out of Concord, North Carolina, saw action in 11 games this season. While his stat line might not jump off the page - 19 catches for 149 yards and a touchdown, plus three carries for eight yards - the flashes were there. He showed glimpses of his potential, especially in matchups against top-tier SEC competition.
His most productive outing came on November 1 against then-No. 7 Ole Miss.
In a game where South Carolina struggled to keep pace, Rowe quietly put together a solid performance: four receptions for 45 yards. A week later, he followed that up with three catches for 50 yards against Missouri, continuing to show growth as a reliable target in the passing game.
What makes Rowe’s departure notable isn’t just what he did this year - it’s what he was projected to become. Coming out of Jay M.
Robinson High School, Rowe was a prolific playmaker. Over three seasons, he racked up 120 receptions, 2,332 yards, and 31 touchdowns.
That kind of production doesn’t go unnoticed, and it’s part of why his name carried weight even as a freshman in a rebuilding program.
Rowe did face a bump in the road midseason when he, along with defensive lineman Davonte Miles and edge rusher Anthony Addison, was suspended for the Oklahoma game due to what head coach Shane Beamer described as a "violation of team standards." Still, there’s no denying his upside - and it’s likely that potential will draw interest from programs looking to bolster their receiving corps.
He becomes the sixth Gamecock to announce plans to enter the portal, joining tight end Michael Smith, offensive linemen Nick Sharpe and Trovon Baugh, defensive lineman Zavion Hardy, and linebacker Jaron Willis. It’s part of a broader wave of roster turnover as South Carolina looks to reset after a disappointing season.
For the Gamecocks, the departure of a young talent like Rowe stings. But for Rowe, the portal offers a fresh start - and a chance to find a system that can better showcase his skill set. Wherever he lands, he’ll bring speed, versatility, and the kind of raw talent that programs covet.