
Quarterback Jake Bentley announced his intention to transfer out of the South Carolina football program and play out his final year of eligibility elsewhere. Bentley leaves the Gamecocks third on the school’s list of touchdown passes (55), third in completions (626), fourth in passing yards (7,527) and fourth in wins (19).
Bentley’s signature win came over Michigan in the 2018 Outback Bowl. Bentley and the Gamecocks overcame a 16-point deficit to knock off Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines. Bentley, a sophomore at the time, passed for 239 yards and two touchdowns.
Many observers thought South Carolina would use the bowl victory as a springboard. Bentley, running back Rico Dowdle and wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Bryan Edwards were all returning for a 9-win team that was ranked 24th in the AP poll after a Week 1 victory over Coastal Carolina. But 2018 didn’t go as planned as the Gamecocks dealt with a number of injuries and capped a disappointing season with a 28-0 loss to Virginia in the Belk Bowl. Bentley drew a lot of the criticism as he threw 14 interceptions. But his junior campaign also produced 3,171 passing yards and 27 touchdowns.
Bentley lost his 2019 season to a Lisfranc injury suffered during the season-opening loss to North Carolina in Charlotte. In his message posted on his Twitter account, Bentley thanked his coaches, teammates, fans and Gamecock legend Marcus Lattimore. Lattimore, who played for Jake’s father Bobby at Byrnes High School, has served as a mentor to Jake throughout his career at South Carolina.