Six players have been transferred from South Carolina since the start of the 2019 football season and another, Jaquaze Sorrells, which should have been part of last year’s recruiting class. Everyone moved to another institution, with some succeeding in their new home.
Some, however, have not yet seen the field, including the linebacker Derek Boykins, which had to be left out due to NCAA transfer rules. Here’s a look at who did and how they did for their new team.
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QB Jake Bentley – Although he did not earn the title of defender at the opening of the season, he played in all five Utah games this season and took over as the starter during the first game of the season when Cameron Rising got hurt. Bentley started the last four games of the year, and ended his season in Utah by going 77 out of 124 to 882 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions. He also had an accelerated touchdown and accumulated 113 yards in 34 races. Bentley, who still has one year of remaining eligibility, entered his name back on the NCAA Transfer Portal.
LB Derek Boykins – The former Gamecocks linebacker spent just 10 months at school after enrolling early, but decided to transfer in October 2019. He had opportunities at NC State and ECU, but decided to play for Charlotte. He had to stay out of the 2020 season due to NCAA transfer rules.
OL Summie Carlay – The former offensive striker of Gamecocks decided to graduate and transfer to The Citadel, where he would have the opportunity to play with his younger brother. The Bulldogs are playing most of their season in the spring, but they had four competitions in 2020. Carlay has played in three of those four matches and will have eight more next spring.
OL Jordon Carty – The former offensive striker committed to Bethune-Cookman in January of this year after joining the NCAA Transfer Portal on December 9, 2019. He signed scholarship papers with the school and was announced as a signatory, but was not on the list for 2020 season. The NCAA transfer rules requiring him to stay out would not apply, since he was being transferred to a lower level.
DT Jaquaze Sorrells – Although Sorrells never enrolled in South Carolina, he was a key talking point as someone who could help the Gamecocks, but could not go to school. Sorrells tried to enroll in South Carolina, but failed to qualify academically. He ended up going to TCU, but did not play the first year on campus.
RB Lavonte Valentine – Ex-running back LaVonte Valentine he wasn’t on campus long before he decided to join the NCAA Transfer Portal in August 2019. It was too late to find a new school to play football last year, but he enrolled at the USF, where he also planned to participate in athletics. He ran a personal record of 6.88 60 meters in the 2020 AAC Championship. Valentine, however, was not in the football squad in 2020.
DB Jamyest Williams – Defensive in South Carolina and listed as a cornerback in the Georgia squad, it was the offensive side of the ball where Williams made his biggest contributions to the Panthers this season. He had 37 running attempts for 208 yards, an average of 5.6 yards per load. He also took seven passes for 66 yards. Defensively, he also had four tackles and a forced fumble.
PK Alexander Woznick – Although he was not a player with a scholarship for Gamecocks, Woznick was well known as a former kicker Elliott Fry he claimed that his school record would be broken by the real freshman who dressed during Fry’s veteran season. But Parker White assumed the role of placekicking and Woznick entered the Transfer Portal in April this year. He ended up in Eastern Kentucky, where he served as a substitute for the team, going 11 to 14. His length, however, was 37 yards. He lost a 54-yard gap at the start of the season and a 40-yard gap later in the season, which were his only two attempts at 40 yards or more. He was also the team’s kickoff specialist and won eight touchbacks in 26 kicks.