#STRecruiting: Two more #Gamecocks enter the Transfer Portal

Tuesday is the final day for college football players who want to transfer and have eligibility for the 2024 season to put their names in the NCAA Transfer Portal. Two more USC players reportedly have done so, including one of their most promising young defensive players.

Grayson “Pup” Howard (6-4 241) has his name in the Portal according to Matt Zenitz of 247Sports. Howard was one of the gems of the Gamecocks’ 2023 recruiting class He made official visits to USC, Florida and Georgia in June of 2022 before committing to the Gamecocks on June 27th of that year. How much did Howard like the Gamecocks? The Jacksonville native estimated at the time of his commitment that he had made at least nine visits to USC over the years.

Howard was likely to be a starting linebacker for the Gamecocks in 2023. He played in 11 games this season and recorded 19 tackles with one tackle for loss and one fumble recovery. 

Howard is the second linebacker to leave USC for the Portal in as many weeks following the announcement last week of starter Stone Blanton of Mississippi.

Also entering the Portal Tuesday night according to 247 Sports was Gamecock freshman tight end Kamron Sandlin (6-4 210) of Anniston, AL. Sandlin committed to the Gamecocks in June of 2022 after an unofficial visit. He was a dual-threat quarterback in high school who was converted to tight end and running back this season. He did not appear in a game.

Twenty-one USC scholarship players from this past season have put their names in the Portal which will have close to if not more than 2000 names in it by the time the window closes tonight.