| Herald-Journal
South Carolina’s sophomore quarterback Ryan Hilinski announced on social media on Wednesday that he has opted into the NCAA transfer portal.
“This was the most difficult decision I had to make in my entire life,” posted Hilinski on Twitter. “It is painful to write this letter knowing what I am leaving behind. It is with a heavy heart that I decided to enter the transfer portal to fulfill the promise I made to myself and my brother.
“Thank you for giving my family and me a home when we didn’t know where it was. Thanks for the roars at Williams-Brice Stadium. For the smiles, hugs, handshakes and warm greetings. I will be forever grateful for that state and the life I found afterwards. of losing my brother. “
His older brother, former Washington State defender Tyler Hillinski, died of suicide in January 2018.
Hilinski became only the sixth true freshman to start at USC since the SEC’s first season in 1992 and tied the school’s freshman quarterback record with 11 games. He was forced to replace veteran Jake Bentley early in the second week after Bentley suffered an injury at the end of the season in the opening game. Hilinski completed 236 of 406 passes for 2,357 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions and his 214.3 yard pass per game was the sixth in the SEC
Bentley was transferred to Utah earlier this year, but fifth-year senior quarterback Collin Hill followed his former Colorado State coach Mike Bobo to the USC after he became the offensive coordinator.
Hill started the first eight games and the real freshman Luke Doty started the final two. Hilinski played only two games, trying only six passes and running the ball twice. It looked like he might have the opportunity to take meaningful pictures after former coach Will Muschamp reopened the initial competition after an extremely poor performance in his November 7 defeat against Texas A&M.
But at the end of the week, while the team was finishing its preparation to play in Mississippi, the news leaked that Hill was maintaining the starting position.
Hill has one year of eligibility left if he decides to return for a sixth season in college and has yet to make his future plans publicly known. Doing so will compete with Doty for the initial job. Gamecocks have added a quarterback so far during the initial hiring period for their new class at Colten Gauthier. The 1.80 m tall, 214-pound Dacula, Georgia product is rated the 23rd best professional-style quarterback in the 247Sports Composite.
Hilinski moved from California to Columbia with her family after her brother’s death. The family became advocates for mental health awareness and suicide prevention through its Hilinski’s Hope foundation. A tradition started in home games that quickly spread to other SEC stadiums when Gamecocks were in town for fans (and players) to raise three fingers to pay homage to Tyler Hilinski’s old number, the same one now used by Ryan. It aims to show solidarity and that no one is alone.
“Thank you for the silence at the beginning of each third quarter in support of mental health awareness,” said Hilinski. “This silence helped to destigmatize the mental health of student-athletes around the world. This silence has made many others no longer silent in their suffering. Thank you for keeping my brother’s name alive by raising three fingers and supporting Hope. Hilinski. “
Hilinski also thanked the coaches and teammates, although Bobo was a glaring omission as he was not chosen individually with three other coaches, including Muschamp’s replacement, Shane Beamer.
“Thanks to Coach (Will) Muschamp, Coach Beamer, Coach (Connor) Shaw and the entire South Carolina coaching staff. I grew up as a person and as a player because of the challenges I faced and the lessons that came with those challenges.
“To my former and current teammates, I am forever grateful for you. I love you and I was happy to get into the 6 am weights and runs because I could see you. You caught me when I was on the floor and ran with me when I I was standing. You are my family and I will always be here for you as I know you will always be there for me. “