Former Gamecock Linebacker Finds New SEC Home

A former starting linebacker for South Carolina's Football team Stone Blanton, has announced that he's returning home and will play for Mississippi State.

A starting linebacker for the South Carolina Gamecocks who entered the transfer portal back on December 23rd, Stone Blanton, has made the decision to return to his home state and play for the Bulldogs under the guidance of new coach Jeff Lebby. Stone, once a Mississippi State baseball commit, made a last-minute switch to the Gamecocks close to national signing day back in the 2022 recruiting cycle. 

Although he never had the opportunity to step onto the baseball diamond for the Gamecocks, he carved a niche for himself in football, securing a role as a rotating linebacker in his freshman year, and cemented himself as one of the starting linebackers in his Sophomore campaign. 

Stone's biggest career highlight was undoubtably his game-icing pick-six against Jacksonville State in the 2023 season, which kept the Gamecocks' bowl hopes alive at that point in the season. Blanton concluded his two-year stint with the Gamecocks with the following stats over 24 games: 

Total Tackles - 59

Sacks - 1.0

Interceptions - 1

Touchdowns - 1

Forced fumbles - 1

Pass deflections - 3

Stone Blanton in between plays against Mississippi State (23rd Sept., 2023) / Fisher Brewer

Gamecock fans should not only wish him success but also be excited about the fresh talent recently added to the linebacker room. The departure of one player opens the door for new opportunities for others, and the upcoming season presents an opportunity for emerging talents to shine. As Gamecock supporters navigate this transition, they can hold onto the memories of Stone's contributions while embracing the potential of the team's evolving roster.

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