South Carolina Football has been actively addressing its roster needs through the transfer portal this offseason, with Shane Beamer and his staff securing a series of impactful additions. As of now, the Gamecocks have gained transfer commitments from players including offensive linemen Nick Sharpe (Wake Forest), Rodney Newsom (Western Kentucky), and Boaz Stanley (Troy); defensive tackle Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy (Texas A&M); linebacker Shawn Murphy (Florida State); tight end Jordan Dingle (Kentucky); EDGE Jaylen Brown (Missouri); defensive back Myles Norwood (Ball State); running back Rahsul Faison (Utah State); and quarterback Air Noland (Ohio State).
However, with various redshirt rules, medical waivers, and other eligibility factors in play, it’s a challenge to determine how much time these incoming players have left in college. The following breakdown gives a general overview of each player’s potential eligibility, factoring in circumstances like medical redshirts and the NCAA’s treatment of junior college players. Players with extra years due to these situations are marked with an asterisk.
One Year Left
These portal additions are mostly graduate students or players nearing the end of their eligibility:
- RB Rahsul Faison (*): A 2019 prospect, Faison transferred twice to junior college before finding success at Utah State, earning All-Mountain West honors. Due to an NCAA waiver for junior college players, he’s expected to have one final year of eligibility, and he’ll compete for the Gamecocks’ starting running back position.
- TE Jordan Dingle: A 2021 prospect who played four seasons at Kentucky, Dingle will play his final year of eligibility in 2025. Despite an inconsistent statistical career, he brings family ties to South Carolina and will vie for a spot in the rotation.
Two Years Left
These players still have multiple seasons ahead of them, thanks to redshirts and other factors:
- OL Rodney Newsom (*): Originally part of the 2020 class, Newsom’s eligibility extends due to the Covid redshirt and a traditional redshirt in 2021. After a stint in junior college, he’s expected to have two more years to compete for a position on the offensive line.
- OL Nick Sharpe (*): A 2021 signee from Wake Forest, Sharpe could stay for two more years thanks to a redshirt year and medical redshirt for 2023. After starting full-time in 2024, he’ll compete for a starting role on the interior offensive line.
- DB Myles Norwood (*): With stops at Iowa Western, Iowa State, New Mexico State, and Ball State, Norwood has been around the block. After a junior college stint and a redshirt at Iowa State, he’s poised to play for South Carolina through at least 2026, competing for a role at cornerback.
More Than Two Years Left
Some key additions will be with the Gamecocks for the long haul:
- QB Air Noland: A top-50 transfer and former top-50 recruit in the class of 2024, Noland will be a long-term project at South Carolina. After redshirting in 2024 at Ohio State, he could stay for up to four more years. He’ll compete with LaNorris Sellers and could be a future leader for the offense.
- EDGE Jaylen Brown: A 4-star EDGE rusher from the class of 2024, Brown comes to South Carolina with three years of eligibility remaining. He’ll look to contribute alongside standout sophomore Dylan Stewart in replacing Kyle Kennard, a former consensus All-American.
- DT Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy (*): A former 5-star in the class of 2022, Brownlow-Dindy has struggled with injuries but is expected to have three years left in his career. If healthy, he’ll compete for a spot in the defensive tackle rotation.
- OL Boaz Stanley (*): A versatile lineman, Stanley has at least two years of eligibility remaining, but due to his junior college background, he could have up to three. After a medical redshirt in 2023, he’ll compete for the center position and may also play other roles on the offensive line.
- LB Shawn Murphy (*): A highly-rated 4-star from the 2022 class, Murphy has battled injuries during his time at Alabama and Florida State. After a medical redshirt for the 2024 season, he could have up to three more years at South Carolina, offering the Gamecocks a potential key contributor in their linebacker corps.
This thorough assessment shows just how deep and varied South Carolina’s transfer portal additions are, with several players poised for immediate impact and others building for future seasons. The eligibility rules around these players are complex, but with the right circumstances, they could provide a significant boost to the Gamecocks’ roster in the coming years.
