Why South Carolina football must utilize NCAA transfer portal window after spring practice
COLUMBIA — The next NCAA transfer portal window opens Saturday, the same day South Carolina football plays its Garnet and Black spring game at Williams-Brice Stadium.
The Gamecocks were a major beneficiary of the transfer portal in 2022, adding star quarterback Spencer Rattler from Oklahoma and top wide receiver Antwane Wells from James Madison. In 2023, South Carolina's class is less star-studded, though it did fill a major need with three tight end transfers, headlined by former Arkansas standout Trey Knox.
Coach Shane Beamer said Tuesday the spring game will be key for the coaching staff to evaluate the current roster and any holes they need to target when the portal reopens Saturday.
"A lot of the things that we've done here in practice, today with the scrimmage, and what we'll do the rest of the week will be really trying to get an idea about who we have in the program and what kind of role they're going to be able to play for us this fall. The answer to that question will be will be the answer to how active we are," Beamer said. "My job is to always do what's best for Carolina football, and anytime I have an opportunity to to increase competition on our roster and make our football team better, I'm going to."
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One of the team's biggest needs is running back. The Gamecocks finished 12th of 14 SEC teams in total rushing yards last season, and the backfield is even thinner entering the 2023 season. Junior Juju McDowell is the only returning running back, and wide receiver Dakereon Joyner spent spring practice transitioning to running back to add depth. South Carolina also added Division II All-American Mario Anderson from the portal, but the Newberry transfer has no experience against Power Five competition.
The main issue with the group is size: McDowell is 5-foot-9, 180 pounds and Anderson is 5-9, 208 pounds. Joyner brings some height at 6-1 but has more of a receiver's build at 216 pounds.
During the team's second scrimmage Tuesday, Beamer said the run game struggled. While he partially attributed it to a strong performance by the defense, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Gamecocks look for another rushing threat.
"We didn't run the ball like we needed to today ... The defense, they were dominant up front early on in that scrimmage especially and a lot of our runs today were broken tackles by the running backs," Beamer said. "But today was practice 12 out of 15 ... I've seen signs of us being able to do it and we've put a lot of time into it."
The Gamecocks could also benefit from additions at edge rusher. The two most veteran returners, Jordan Strachan and Chad Terrell, are both coming off major knee injuries, and the team added just one edge rusher during the first portal window in freshman Ole Miss transfer Jaron Willis.
The April transfer portal is just 15 days long, while the winter window is open for 45 days. Beamer said that after the spring game the team will lean in to its recruiting efforts, both from the portal and high school prospects.
"I love the fact that the window in the springtime is shorter ... it's a long time in December and January," "Our coaches will be on the road recruiting (next) Wednesday, so there's a lot happening. We're traveling different places, so for it to be shorter and streamlined, I'm a fan of that."
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: How South Carolina football must use transfer portal after spring game
