South Carolina losing first player to transfer portal since 2023 season ended

Two days after South Carolina’s season ended with a 16-7 loss to Clemson, the Gamecocks lost their first player to the transfer portal.

According to 247 Sports, South Carolina sophomore edge rusher Donovan Westmoreland is expected to enter the transfer portal when it officially opens on Dec. 4.

Westmoreland, a 6-foot-1, 234-pound pass rusher out of Griffin, Georgia, was a former four-star recruit who was a part of coach Shane Beamer’s first full recruiting class.

Initially committed to Georgia, Westmoreland’s commitment in May of 2021 was a major victory for Beamer, who had yet to coach a game for South Carolina.

But the two lead recruiters who helped flip Westmoreland — former DL coach Jimmy Lindsey and OLBs coach Mike Peterson — are no longer with the Gamecocks.

After appearing in seven games last season, even winning the Gamecocks’ Defensive Scout Team Award, Westmoreland transitioned from linebacker to EDGE and saw action in only a pair of games this season, failing to record a tackle in either.