South Carolina is looking to put a tough 4-8 season in the rearview mirror, and on Saturday, the Gamecocks made a move that could help spark that turnaround-by dipping into the FCS ranks for a wide receiver who’s flown under the radar but brings some intriguing upside.
Charly Mullaly, a transfer from Holy Cross, is headed to Columbia. The New Jersey native spent three seasons with the Crusaders, appearing in 18 games and tallying 333 receiving yards. While those numbers won’t jump off the page, there’s more to the story-and South Carolina seems to believe there’s more to Mullaly’s game.
This past season, Mullaly saw action in five games and posted 17 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown. That’s a solid bump in production, especially considering his limited role early on.
In 2024, he began carving out a spot at wide receiver, hauling in eight passes for 136 yards and a score across four games. Before that, his contributions came mostly on special teams, with just one reception for eight yards in 2023.
Now comes the big leap-from the Patriot League to the SEC. That’s not a small jump.
The physicality, speed, and depth of talent in the SEC are on a different level. But South Carolina is betting that Mullaly’s development curve is still trending upward, and that he can handle the transition.
It’s a swing on potential, and after a season where the Gamecocks struggled to find consistent playmakers, it’s a move that makes sense.
Mullaly’s roots trace back to the Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey, where he set program records for single-season receiving yards and touchdowns. That kind of production in high school, coupled with his gradual growth at Holy Cross, paints the picture of a player who’s still evolving-and one who could thrive in the right system.
He arrives in Columbia with two years of eligibility remaining, thanks to a redshirt in 2024. That gives the Gamecocks some flexibility in how they integrate him into the offense. Whether he becomes an immediate contributor or develops into a rotational piece, he adds depth to a receiving corps that’s still finding its identity.
Mullaly is the latest piece in what’s shaping up to be a busy offseason for South Carolina. Earlier, the Gamecocks brought in NC State offensive line transfer Jaccarius Peak, signaling a clear intent to retool the offense from the ground up. With Shane Beamer still at the helm in 2026, the program is trying to reset the culture and get back on track-and that starts with finding players who are hungry to prove themselves.
Mullaly fits that mold. He’s not a household name-yet-but he’s got a shot to make an impact in a conference that demands the best.
For South Carolina, it’s a low-risk, high-upside addition. For Mullaly, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime.