South Carolina struck deals with two more free agents late Friday night, bringing their haul for the day to four. WR Nitro Tuggle (6-1 195) of Purdue and OL Dayne Arnett (6-5 305) of D2 National Champion Ferris State both reached contract agreements with the Gamecocks, according to releases provided by their agents to media outlets.
These two pending signings give the Gamecocks 11 takes from the free agent market thus far, eight on the offensive side.
Tuggle is a native of Goshen, IN, who began his career at Georgia, where he played in three games and had eight catches as a freshman in 2024. This season at Purdue, he started in 11 of 12 games and caught 35 passes for 500 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 14.7 yards per catch. Vanderbilt was also involved with him as a Portal prospect. Last March, Tuggle had a misdemeanor charge of reckless driving and speeding, according to ESPN. He was suspended by Georgia coach Kirby Smart, and he transferred a month later.
Arnett is a native of Grand Haven, MI, who played in 33 games in his career at Ferris, including all 15 games this season, and won back-to-back D2 national titles. He started at tackle but can also play on the inside. He earned all-conference honors this season. He began his career as a defensive end. He developed into a strong blocker as an interior offensive lineman. In 2024, he blocked for quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who just finished up a standout season at Ole Miss. He’s the third offensive lineman acquired by the Gamecocks over the last two days, giving them five in the free agent class.
Nitro Tuggle bio from Purdue
Career Receiving Statistics
Glossary
| Season | Team | Gp | Gs | Rec | Yds | Td | Long | Rec/g | Ypc | Yds/g |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Georgia | 8 | 0 | 3 | 34 | 0 | 16 | 0.4 | 11.3 | 4.3 |
| 2025-26 | Purdue | 12 | 11 | 34 | 500 | 4 | 36 | 2.8 | 14.7 | 41.7 |
| Totals: | 20 | 11 | 37 | 534 | 4 | 36 | 1.9 | 14.4 | 26.7 |
2024 / AS A FRESHMAN AT GEORGIA
• Appeared in eight games
• Totaled three receptions for 34 yards
• Caught one pass for nine yards in his collegiate debut at Tennessee Tech
• Hauled in two passes for 25 yards vs. Tennessee
HIGH SCHOOL
• Played at Northwood High School
• Rated a four-star prospect by 247Sports Composite
• Named the No. 81 prospect nationally, including the No. 17 wide receiver and No. 2 in Indiana, by 247Sports Composite
• Selected to the All-American Bowl
• South Bend Tribune Football Player of the Year as a senior
• Elhart Truth Area Player of the Year and All-Area First Team his senior season
• Led the team to a 12-3 record and state runner-up finish as a senior
• Totaled 86 catches for 1,456 yards, 19 touchdowns, two kickoff return touchdowns, 25 tackles and three interceptions his senior year
• Recorded 173 catches for 2,866 yards and 41 touchdowns and added 25 carries for 314 yards and three touchdowns his junior year
Dayne Arnett freshman bio from Ferris State
Talented West Michigan lineman with ability to make plays … Prepped at Grand Haven High School … Played on both the offensive and defensive lines along with H-Back and linebacker during his prep career … Powerful performer up front … Ranked as one of 247Sports’ top performers in the state of Michigan … Received strong NCAA Division I recruiting interest and multiple scholarship offers on the collegiate level … Muskegon Chronicle All-Area Dream Team honoree … Three-sport varsity athlete … Also competed in wrestling and rugby … Three-Time all-conference choice … Four-year letterwinner … Ranked by Prep Redzone as one of the top performers at his position … Had D1 scholarship offers … Played on both sides of the football … Coached by Mike Farley … Earned Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Division 1 All-Region kudos … Named to the 2021 Detroit Free Press Michigan All-State Division 1-2 Team … Labeled by State Champs Network as one of five high-risers in the class of 2022 … All-State wrestler for Grand Haven … Consensus all-state choice this past season … One of top prospects in West Michigan in this year’s recruiting class.
South Carolina free agent acquisitions
- Jayden Gibson WR 6-5 197 Oklahoma
- Jordan Thomas DT 6-5 315 Georgia
- Carter Miller OL 6-2 295 UCF
- Hank Purvis OL 6-5 329 Purdue
- Upton Bellenfant PK 6-1 190 Texas Tech
- Quay’sheed Scott CB 6-0 192 Kentucky
- Jacarrius Peak OL 6-4 285 NC State
- Emmanuel Poku OL 6-5 326 East Carolina
- Sam Williams-Dixon RB 5-11 206 Ohio State
- Nitro Tuggle WR 6-1 195 Purdue
- Dayne Arnett OL 6-5 305 Ferris State
Some of this is rhetoric on build in players up to be more than they are need to stop. The Gamecock fan base as well as Gamecock media will celebrate a first down in 1998 over and over and need to be reeled back in to reality, I’m old and a realist, time to get real, we will never have a championship team with the non-sence of do-gooders who think in lines of a participation trophy. That’s what I see, read and weep, keep liberalism out of football.
An offensive lineman at 245? Is that a miss print? What’s wrong with this picture? You guys are killing me!!!
Thank you. That has been updated to reflect a massive weight gain to 305.