Georgia transfer, one-time Gamecock tailback commitment could give USC another look

Phil Kornblut
·4 min read

When Lovasea Carroll went into the NCAA transfer portal last week after one season as a reserve defensive back at Georgia, speculation sprang up immediately that South Carolina could be a factor in his new round of recruiting.

He committed to the Gamecocks as a running back in May of 2019 for the 2021 class before decommitting four months later. He committed to Georgia in April of 2020 and enrolled there in January 2021.

Carroll confirmed Monday night that he has been contacted by Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer and running backs coach Montario Hardesty.

“They said they want me and stuff like that,” Carroll said. He added the Gamecocks want him as a running back, which is what they originally recruited him for.

Carroll has family who live in the Columbia area. He’s also close friends with Gamecock quarterback Colten Gautheir.

Carroll said he wants to take some official visits and USC is under consideration for one. He said he’s also heard from Texas, Kentucky, Missouri, Michigan State and Mississippi State since entering the portal. He’s looking to enroll in his new school for the spring semester.

Carroll is a native of Warrenton, Georgia. He rushed for over 1,400 yards and 19 touchdowns as a sophomore. He transferred to IMG Academy prior to his junior season. A shoulder injury limited his playing time and he rushed for 570 yards and 8 touchdowns. He did average 10 yards per carry. In his senior season he rushed for 464 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Carroll also played cornerback in his high school career and Georgia signed him for that position. He appeared in four games this season and recorded three tackles.

Gamecock recruiting notes

  • 2023 LB Grayson Howard of Jacksonville plans to visit Clemson Jan. 29. He was scheduled to be at USC this past Saturday and is set to visit Tennessee this coming weekend. Clemson has not yet offered, the Gamecocks and Vols have.

  • Howard also visited USC for two games last season, and he camped with the Gamecocks last summer. Some of his other offers are Auburn, Texas A&M, Southern Cal, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Georgia Tech, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Arkansas, LSU, NC State, West Virginia and Duke.

  • 2023 DB Cameron Upshaw of Perry, Florida plans to visit USC Jan. 29.

  • 2023 RB Jaylen Johnson of Baxley, Georgia was in for the USC junior day Saturday.

  • 2023 WR Tyee Stephens and 2023 WR Kameron Phillips of Midlothian, Virginia visited USC Saturday.

  • USC target DT Keith Sampson Jr. of New Bern, North Carolina plans to visit N.C. State this Saturday. USC made the top five with Sampson. The others to make his short list were Clemson, Ohio State, Georgia and NC State. Sampson was in Columbia Saturday for the Gamecocks’ junior day. He also camped with the Gamecocks last summer and visited for the Auburn game.

  • 2023 DT Xzavier McLeod of Camden visited Georgia Saturday.

  • 2023 LB Josiah Trotter of Philadelphia, who has a USC offer, was at Virginia Tech over the weekend and was offered.

  • USC target 2023 QB Dylan Lonergan of Snellville, Georgia visited Georgia Saturday.

  • USC offered 2023 ATH Robby Washington (5-10 170) of Miami.

  • 2023 WR Devin Hyatt, formerly of Dutch Fork and now at IMG Academy, was offered by UCF.

  • Former North Greenville and Dorman QB Hayden Lee is transferring to USC as a preferred walk-on.

  • USC defensive coordinator Clayton White made an in-home visit Monday with LB EJ Lightsey of Fitzgerald, Georgia. He decommitted from Florida in December. Georgia was in on Friday. Lightsey is scheduled for an official visit to Georgia this weekend and one to USC the last weekend of the month.

  • USC target 2023 WR Tray Tolliver of Lake City, Florida was offered by Missouri.

  • 2024 QB Trey Petty of Starkville, Mississippi visited USC Saturday.

  • The USC men’s basketball team will be back at home Saturday afternoon to face Georgia. It’s likely Frank Martin will have several recruits in the audience. One who is planning to be there on an official visit is 6-foot-3 Bryce Lindsay of Baltimore, according to Stockrisers. Lindsay is a prospect who has seen his recruiting elevate this season. He visited Oklahoma State in September. He’s named a top list of Oklahoma State, Xavier, Virginia Tech, Marquette, Georgetown and Texas A&M.

  • USC basketball target Comeh Emuobor of Raleigh took an unofficial visit to Virginia Tech over the weekend.