REPORT: Veteran Gamecock O-Lineman Enters Portal

South Carolina's Football program got some bad news on early national signing day in a different way, as Jaylen Nichols is entering the portal per Mike Farrell.

South Carolina's offensive line might be set to lose their most experienced offensive lineman on the roster, as Jaylen Nichols entered the transfer portal on Wednesday afternoon per Mike Farrell of Rivals.com. Nichols started 18 games for the Gamecocks over the past five years and missed the 2023 season due to a knee injury suffered in this past April's Spring game. 

Check out the latest information on the players who could be coming to Columbia down below:

Portal Commits (9)

• DB Gerald Kilgore - Tennessee Tech: In 2023, the older brother of Gamecock safety Jalon Kilgore had 37 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and five pass break ups in his first season in the secondary.
• TE Brady Hunt - Ball State: In an impressive Freshman All-American campaign in 2022, Hunt caught 46 passes for 498 yards, and five touchdowns.
• EDGE Kyle Kennard - Georgia Tech: A graduate transfer who, in 42 career games for the Yellow Jackets, racked up 115 total tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, and 12.5 sacks.
• RB Jawarn Howell - South Carolina State: Amassed 809 yards on 102 carries (7.9 yards per carry) and scored seven touchdowns on the ground as an FCS Freshman All-American in 2023.
• DL DeAndre Jules - Pittsburgh: Recorded 24 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble in 2023.
• WR Jayden McGowan - Vanderbilt: Caught 80 passes for 836 receiving yards and three touchdowns in his two years in Nashville. Also rushed for 160 yards and had 845 kick return yards on 35 returns.
• RB Raheim 'Rocket' Sanders - Arkansas: Sanders ran for 1,443 yards and had 10 rushing touchdowns in a banner 2022 season that saw him earn First-team All-SEC honors.
• RB Oscar Adaway III - North Texas: scored an impressive 1,935 yards on 344 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Alongside these impressive stats, he scored 14 touchdowns.
• WR Jared Brown - Coastal Carolina: One of the best wide receivers at the Group of 5 level over the past two seasons, racking up 1,534 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns on 108 catches in the passing game, along with 439 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on 35 carries in the ground game

Uncommitted Transfers Who've Visited Columbia

• Texas QB Maalik Murphy

Uncommitted Transfers With Public Offers (4)

• OL Pearson Toomey - Furman (12/13/2023): A graduate transfer with 33 career starts under his belt, in 2023, Toomey was named a First-team All-SOCON selection by conference coaches and an FCS All-American by FanNation's FCS Football Central.
• DL Isaiah Hastings - Alabama (12/12/2023): Rated a four-star and the 151st best prospect in the 2022 class by On3's Industry rankings, Hastings recorded one tackle in his two seasons in Tuscaloosa, and has offers from Washington, Illinois, Michigan State, Virginia Tech and several others.
• OL Kevin Wigenton II - Michigan State (12/5/2023): A rising redshirt junior, Wigenton started in six games and played in 14 games during his time in East Lansing.
• OL Jalen Travis - Princeton (11/28/2023): Started 15 games over the past two seasons for the Tigers, seven games at left tackle and eight games at right tackle. Was named a second-team All-IVY League selection each of the past two years.

Portal Defections (17)

• OL Jaylen Nichols - 
• RB Mario Anderson Jr. - Committed To Memphis
• C Grayson Mains
• DB Isaiah Norris
• OL JonDarius Morgan - Committed To UAB
• Nickel Corner Kajuan Banks
• WR/H-Back Zavier Short
• WR O'Mega Blake - Committed To East Carolina
• DL D'Andre Martin - Committed To Charlotte
• WR Kylic Horton
• DT Felix Hixon
• WR Landon Samson
• PK Mitch Jeter - Committed To Notre Dame
• WR Antwane Wells Jr. - Committed To Ole Miss
• QB Colten Gauthier
• QB Tanner Bailey
• EDGE/LB Donovan Westmoreland

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