Shane Beamer and company aren’t quite done with the free agent market, and this time USC tapped one of its own. On Monday, former Gamecock walk-on wide receiver DJ Black (6-3 195) signed a deal that will bring him back to Columbia from UCF, according to Matt Zenitz and Chris Hummer of CBSSports.com. Black, who is a graduate of Chapman High School in Inman, began his career with USC in 2022 but did not see any action and was redshirted. He transferred to Limestone for two seasons, where he was a standout wide receiver for the Saints. During his time in Gaffney, Black appeared in 21 games, gathering over 1,000 receiving yards with 14 touchdowns. Last season at UCF, Black had 22 receptions for 273 yards and two touchdowns. Black is the fourth receiver USC has taken from the Portal, the 24th free agent signee/commitment overall, and the third from UCF.
DJ Black’s Bio from UCF
REDSHIRT JUNIOR (2025)
- Appeared in 12 games, earning 11 starts for the Knights in his first season at the FBS level
- Hauled in 22 catches for 273 yards and two touchdowns
- Snagged the game-winning touchdown with just about a minute to play in UCF’s season opener vs. Jacksonville State (Aug. 28), a 33-yard touchdown reception
- Earned the longest catch of his career, an 82-yard touchdown at Kansas State (Sep. 27), earning 59 yards after the grab to find paydirt; it was the ninth-longest reception in UCF program history
- Caught three passes in each of his first three games
- Reeled in a season-high four catches for 32 yards at Cincinnati (Oct. 11)
REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE (2024, AT LIMESTONE)
- Appeared in 11 games
- Accumulated 939 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns for the season
- Had a season-high of 153 reception yards against Barton
REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2023, AT LIMESTONE)
- Appeared in 10 games
- He had 8 receptions for 225 yards and 3 touchdowns
FRESHMAN (2022, AT SOUTH CAROLINA)
- Redshirted in the season and didn’t see any game action
- Ran indoor track in the spring
HIGH SCHOOL
- Graduated from Chapman High School in Inman, S.C., in 2022
- Coached by Harry Cabannis
- Became one of the state’s biggest breakout performers as a senior when he recorded 79 receptions for 1,445 yards and 19 touchdowns
- Had a school-record 270 receiving yards on 12 catches against Woodruff with five going for touchdowns, breaking Deebo Samuel’s mark of 266 set nine years earlier
- Selected for the South Carolina Shrine Bowl roster
- Earned South Team Offensive MVP in the Touchstone Energy Bowl all-star game in Myrtle Beach after catching three passes for 34 yards, including a 29-yard fourth quarter touchdown that tied the game
- Began his prep career as a running back, but grew six inches between his sophomore and junior seasons, and converted to wide receiver
- Also ran track at Chapman
PERSONAL
- Dante JaQuan “DJ” Black was born February 19, 2004