South Carolina Football 2026 Roster Tracker: Shane Beamer Transfer Portal Updates

Xenio

Jan 11, 2026

South Carolina Football Navigates Transfer Portal with Major Roster Changes

COLUMBIA — As the transfer portal opens for the 2026 season, South Carolina football is undergoing a significant transformation. The window opened on January 2 and will close on January 16. As of the first week, coach Shane Beamer has seen 20 players either announce or enter the portal, while also gaining seven new players. This comes after Beamer's worst record in his fifth year at the helm, finishing with a 4-8 season.

The Gamecocks are in need of a rebuild, particularly on their offensive line, as well as filling key gaps in other position groups. The Greenville News is tracking all of South Carolina’s transfer moves for the 2026 season, providing updates on who has joined and left the program.

New Additions to the South Carolina Roster

South Carolina has made several notable additions through the transfer portal:

Drew Collins – An edge rusher from Arkansas State and brother of Kelby Collins, who is also transferring from Alabama. Drew was a freshman in 2025, recording three sacks.
Kelby Collins – A defensive lineman joining the Gamecocks from Alabama. In 2025, he had two sacks and played in eight games.
Seth Smith – An offensive lineman from Northern Arizona, a veteran starter with one year of eligibility remaining.
Jabree Coleman – A running back from Penn State, following Stan Drayton to South Carolina. He did not record stats as a freshman in 2025.
Tomiwa Durojaiye – A defensive tackle who spent the 2025 season at Illinois, logging two sacks. He started as a mid-year enrollee at Kentucky in 2022, then went to West Virginia in 2023, then Florida State in 2024 before Illinois.
Nitro Tuggle – A wide receiver from Purdue, who had 500 receiving yards on 34 receptions, averaging 14.7 yards per catch with four touchdowns in 2025.
Emmet Rhoades – A long snapper from Western Carolina, coming to South Carolina after playing in 12 games as the primary long-snapper on punts and placekicks in 2025 as a redshirt sophomore.
Sam Williams-Dixon – The first running back for South Carolina this portal cycle, coming from Ohio State where he played behind four players but logged nine yards and one touchdown.
Emmanuel “Kojo” Poku – An offensive lineman from Eastern Carolina, committing on Jan. 9 with one year of eligibility remaining.
Dayne Arnett – An offensive lineman from Ferris State, 6-5, 295 pounds, played in 15 games in 2025, 33 total across three seasons.
Jacarrius Peak – An offensive tackle from NC State, becoming the third offensive lineman to join the Gamecocks this portal cycle.
Quay'Sheed Scott – A cornerback from Kentucky, who signed with the Gamecocks after two seasons with the Wildcats.
Upton Bellenfant – A kicker from Texas Tech, who was 6-of-6 on field goals in 2025.
Hank Purvis – The second offensive lineman to commit to South Carolina on Jan. 6, playing 14 games both as an OL and on special teams for Purdue in 2024.
Carter Miller – An interior offensive lineman who started at center for UCF in 2025, transferring to the Gamecocks.
Jordan Thomas – A defensive lineman from Georgia, committing on Jan. 6, with three years of eligibility remaining.
Jayden Gibson – The first portal addition for South Carolina, a wide receiver from Oklahoma, who didn't play in 2024 and 2025 due to injuries.

Transfers Visiting South Carolina

Several players are currently visiting South Carolina, including:

DJ Chester – An offensive lineman from LSU, set to visit according to 247Sports.
Bryant Williams – A left tackle from Louisiana, who posted photos from his official visit on Jan. 7.

Players Entering the Transfer Portal

South Carolina has also seen several players entering the transfer portal:

Jaylen Brown – An edge rusher who entered the portal on Jan. 6 after missing the entire 2025 season with an injury.
Josiah Thompson – A sophomore left tackle who announced Jan. 3 that he is entering the portal after two seasons as a starter.
Vandrevius Jacobs – A wide receiver who transferred from Florida State, now heading to Miami.
Boaz Stanley – An offensive lineman who will enter the portal after one season, heading to Purdue.
Rodney Newsom Jr – An offensive lineman who confirmed he will enter the portal after one season, heading to Nebraska.
Myles Norwood – A redshirt senior defensive back who plans to enter the portal.
Chase Kibble – A defensive lineman who revealed he will enter the portal with three years of eligibility remaining.
Taeshawn Alston – A linebacker/edge rusher who confirmed on Dec. 24 that he will enter the portal with four years of eligibility remaining.
Tree Babalade – An offensive lineman entering the portal after four seasons, heading to Nebraska.
Air Noland – A backup quarterback who will enter the portal after one season.
Cason Henry – A veteran offensive lineman entering the portal with two years of eligibility left.
Brian Rowe Jr – A freshman wide receiver entering the portal after one season, heading to UCLA.
Trovon Baugh – An offensive lineman who started 11 of 12 games this season, heading to Texas A&M.
Mac Walters – A walk-on who announced on Dec. 15 that he's entering the portal after 3.5 years with South Carolina.
Peyton Argent – A redshirt sophomore walk-on kicker/punter who said Dec. 9 that he will enter the portal with two years left.
Jaron Willis – A linebacker confirmed on Dec. 7 that he'd enter the portal after three seasons with South Carolina, heading to Kansas.
Emazon Littlejohn – A second-year walk-on wide receiver who announced via X on Dec. 4 he is entering the portal.
Zay Hardy – A defensive lineman who revealed via X on Dec. 4 that he would enter the portal.
Nick Sharpe – An offensive lineman who announced on Dec. 3 via social media that he will be entering the portal with one graduate year of eligibility remaining.
Michael Smith – A sophomore who left the team midseason in 2025, heading to Syracuse.
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X @Lulukesin and Bluesky @bylulukesin.bsky.social. This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina football, Shane Beamer transfer portal live updates tracker 2026 roster.