One-time USC commitment Vanderbilt transfer WR Jayden McGowan announced late Friday afternoon a commitment to Boston College. McGowan, a native of Laurens, committed to the Gamecocks December 13th, a few days after taking his official visit. But after making his commitment, McGowan made an official visit to Boston College, and soon after it became apparently the relationship with South Carolina was damaged beyond repair. He did not sign financial aid papers and was not announced as a signed transfer by Shane Beamer on Wednesday. McGowan played two seasons for Vanderbilt and developed into one of the top receivers and kickoff return men in the SEC. He had 80 catches in his two seasons there and 845 yards and a touchdown on kickoff returns.
Texas transfer QB Maalik Murphy announced a commitment to Duke Friday night. Murphy made official visits to USC, Duke and Oregon State last week. Murphy was the backup to Quinn Ewers at Texas this season.
2026 ATH Jamarrion Gordon of Jackson, AL, who had planned to announce a commitment Monday, said he’s cancelled that because he needs more time. USC has been among his top schools along with LSU, Auburn and Ole Miss.
Former USC DT Xzavier McLeod of Camden, a former Mr. Football in South Carolina, announced a commitment to Georgia Friday afternoon. McLeod strongly considered Georgia before signing with the Gamecocks in 2022. He left the USC program in late October. He appeared in four games this season and recorded one assisted tackle.
USC and Clemson are in the top 10 with OL Chauncey Gooden (6-4 315) of Nashville. The others on his list are Michigan, Oregon, Auburn, Colorado, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Missouri and Georgia.
USC offered RB Bo Jackson (6-0 205) of Euclid, OH. He was named a First Team All-State running back this season. Some of his other offers are Missouri, Penn State, Notre Dame, Rutgers, Purdue, NC State, West Virginia and Louisville.
USC target OT Solomon Thomas of Jacksonville committed to Florida State.
OT Will Black, who had an offer from USC, committed to Notre Dame.
SAF DJ Pickett of Tampa, who has offers from Clemson and USC, named a final five of Alabama, Miami, Georgia, Oregon and Michigan.
Auburn transfer QB Robby Ashford (6-4 225) has had contact with #Gamecocks a source tells us this afternoon. Hale McGranahan of TheBigSpur also reported Ashford might visit USC when transfers can take visits again starting January 3rd. Ashford spent his first two college seasons at Oregon, his last two at Auburn. He has thrown for 1758 yards, 9 TDs and 9 INTs in his career and rushed for 927 yards and 12 touchdowns. He’s a native of Hoover, AL.
Vanderbilt transfer WR Jayden McGowan has yet to announce his plans after not signing Wednesday with USC. The Laurens native committed to the Gamecocks December 13th and still has his announcement post pinned on his X page and his Instagram page. The reporting as to why McGowan is not a Gamecock at this point has focused on the respective NIL deals proffered by USC and Boston College. It’s been suggested BC offered more, McGowan wanted USC to match, and the Gamecocks refused. McGowan offered this rebuttal to that notion in a text message to SportsTalkSC:
“I’m not sure how to go about this situation now that people are lying and saying I asked SC for more money after I committed and also that tried to use the BC offer as leverage. I’ve never done that, and you can ask coach (Justin) Stepp. I never told them how much BC offered to begin with because the money is not that important. What’s important is to be somewhere that I will get to show off my abilities and ultimately get me drafted to the NFL. Idk (I don’t know) where these false reports are coming from, but I just wanted to clear the air and state that the NIL situation is completely false. Still not completely positive but my hesitancy is due to things other than money because I told SC and BC that my next move isn’t to be paper chasing because I was offered more money somewhere else and I’m not entertaining that school. And if I was so worried about money instead of football, I could’ve simply stayed at Vandy.”
USC Thursday offered RB Shekai Mills-Knight (6-2 210) of Chattanooga. He also has offers from Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Cincinnati and Ole Miss.
LB Brett Clatterbaugh of Culpepper, VA has Clemson in his top five along with Penn State, Georgia, Notre Dame and Virginia Tech.
Former Tulane star wide receiver Chris Brazzell is committing to Tennessee, a source tells @247sports. USC was one of the other schools to contact him.
Penn State transfer portal offensive tackle commit Alan Herron has flipped to Maryland. He was once a Clemson target.
Former Summerville High School and Liberty QB Johnathan Bennett committed to The Citadel.
South Pointe DT CJ Dixon accepted PWO offer from USC.
NIL is ruining college athletics