#STRecruiting: #Gamecocks add new Portal commitment and retain one thought to be going elsewhere

The Transfer Portal circuit continues to work well for USC coach Shane Beamer. Saturday, he picked up a commitment from Pittsburgh transfer LB Bangally Kamara (6-2 230) while also getting the news from Ball State transfer TE Brady Hunt that he is sticking with his commitment after all.

Kamara made his commitment following his official visit with the Gamecocks. He’ll join Pitt teammate DT DeAndre Jules who committed to the Gamecocks December 13th. 

Kamara is the fourth linebacker in the incoming class of newcomers for the Gamecocks. His commitment, and Hunt’s decision to stay in the class, gives USC 29 newcomers including 13 from the Transfer Portal.

Kamara is a native of Akron who played four seasons with the Panthers but has an additional season due to the Covid bonus. He played in 47 games and totaled 117 tackles with 11.5 for loss and one interception. This season was his best with 55 tackles, 6.5 for loss and two sacks.

Hunt committed to the Gamecocks December 17th following his official visit and never removed his commitment edit from his social media sites. But earlier in the week several Internet media outlets proclaimed Hunt would actually enroll at Texas A&M because his position coach at Ball State had been hired there. 

However, Saturday night Hunt posted on X that he was in Columbia, and Beamer followed up with a repost of that post with the words “Guess who’s back.” 

Here’s more on Kamar from his Pittsburgh bio:

2022: Played in all 13 games, starting 11 at Star linebacker…totaled 49 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and seven pass breakups…had a career-high nine tackles against West Virginia…had seven stops (all solo) at North Carolina…had an eight-yard sack against Georgia Tech…made a crucial play in the Sun Bowl victory over UCLA, intercepting a pass and returning it 12 yards to the Bruins’ 18, setting up a Pitt touchdown to tie the game at 28 early in the fourth quarter…added five tackles and a career-high 1.5 TFLs against UCLA.

2021: Played in all 14 games, serving on special teams and as a reserve Money linebacker…totaled 11 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble…had a season-high three stops against Michigan State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl…had a 10-yard sack that forced a fumble at Syracuse…logged a three-yard sack at Duke.

2020: Played in all 11 games in his initial collegiate season, largely serving on special teams…had five tackles on the year…saw his most extensive action on defense (Star linebacker) in the season opener against Austin Peay and had a career-high four stops…had one tackle on the kickoff cover unit at Florida State.

HIGH SCHOOL: Decorated linebacker who also played tight end, wide receiver, kicker and punter…Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association (OPSWA) Division III All-State (first team)…Northeast Inland All-District (first team)…Greater Akron Best of Preps All-Star Team…led East to the Akron City Series championship, including five consecutive shutout victories to close the season…rated the No. 7 overall prospect in Ohio and the nation’s No. 23 outside linebacker by 247Sports…rated No. 26 in Ohio by ESPN and No. 38 by Rivals…played under Coach Marques Hayes.

PERSONAL: Bangally Umar Kamara, born 10/13/01, is the son of Umar and Fatima Kamara…has five brothers…law, criminal justice and society major.

USC 2024 Newcomers:

1. JALEWIS SOLOMON                         CB   6-1   185       ELLAVILLE, GA
2. DYLAN STEWART                              DE   6-5   238       WASHINGTON, DC
3. KYLE KENNARD                                DE   6-5   238       TRANSFER GEORGIA TECH
4. JEROME SIMMONS                           DT   6-4   333       HIGHLAND JC, KS
5. DEANDRE JULES                              DT   6-3   310       TRANSFER PITT
6. WILLIAM GREGORY                          LB    6-4   220       MARIETTA, GA
7. DEMETRIUS KNIGHT                         LB    6-2   247       TRANSFER CHARLOTTE
8. FRED JOHNSON                               LB    6-3   225       NORFOLK, VA
9. BANGALLY KAMARA                         LB    6-2   230       TRANSFER PITT
10. TORRICELLI SIMPKINS                     OC   6-5   320       TRANSFER NC CENTRAL
11. BLAKE FRANKS                                OG   6-5   310       GREENVILLE
12. KAM PRINGLE                                   OT   6-7   315       WOODLAND
13. JOSIAH THOMPSON                          OT   6-7   290       DILLON
14. MASON LOVE                                   P     6-0   175       PARKVILLE, MO
15. DANTE RENO                                    QB   6-1   215       FISKDALE, MA
16. MATTHEW FULLER                           RB   6-0   210       JESUP, GA
17. OSCAR ADAWAY                              RB   5-10 219       TRANSFER NORTH TEXAS
18. ROCKET SANDERS                          RB   6-2   242       TRANSFER ARKANSAS
19. JAWARN HOWELL                             RB   6-1   215       TRANSFER SC STATE
20. KELVIN HUNTER                               SAF 6-1   185       WEST FLORENCE
21. DAVID BUCEY                                   SAF 6-2   200       SAVANNAH
22. GERALD KILGORE                            SAF 6-0   202       TRANSFER TENNESSEE TECH
23. MICHAEL SMITH                                TE    6-4   225       SAVANNAH
24. BRADY HUNT                                    TE    6-6   249       TRANSFER BALL STATE
25. MAZEO BENNETT                              WR  6-0   165       GREENVILLE
26. JARED BROWN                                 WR  6-0   190       TRANSFER COASTAL CAROLINA
27. DEBRON GATLING                            WR  5-11 180       ALPHARETTA, GA
28. AHMARI HUGGINS-BRUCE                WR  5-11 170       TRANSFER LOUISVILLE
29. GAGE LARVADAIN                            WR  5-10 180       TRANSFER MIAMI OF OHIO