Mike Farrell Sports

College Football Recruiting, Opinion, and Analysis

Gamecocks Football: 3 Impactful Transfers for South Carolina

South Carolina returns many key players and will be assisted by impact transfers like Rocket Sanders.

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Oct 1
Oct 1

By Tony Thomas

The South Carolina Gamecocks are coming off a 5-7 record in 2023, their first losing season under Head Coach Shane Beamer. In addition, the Gamecocks lose QB Spencer Rattler to the NFL Draft, RB Mario Anderson to Memphis, and WR Juice Wells to Ole Miss.

However, South Carolina does return several key members in all phases of the game from last year’s squad, including All-SEC LB Debo Williams (team leader with 113 tackles), fan-favorite QB/WR Luke Doty, and DB Jason Kilgore (2nd on team with 76 tackles). In addition, they found some talent via the transfer portal, including three that will positively impact the Gamecocks this fall.

RB Raheim “Rocket” Sanders

Previous School: Arkansas Razorbacks

6’2”, 242 lbs.

Playing in only six games in 2023 due to an injury, Rocket Sanders rushed for 209 yards and two touchdowns, with a season-high 103 yards vs Florida. 

That is a stark contrast to his 2022 season in which he rushed for 1,443 yards and 10 touchdowns and averaged 6.5 yards per carry. That was good enough for 2nd Team All-SEC honors by the Associated Press.

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In that 2022 season, Sanders was 2nd in the SEC in rushing with 111 yards per game. Sanders cracked the 100-yard mark seven times in 2022, including 232 yards on 24 carries (9.67 yard-avg.) and three TDs in a 42-27 win over Ole Miss. 

For his collegiate career, Sanders has 2,230 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns to his credit. Sanders fills the void left by Anderson’s transfer to Memphis.

LB Demetrius Knight

Previous School: Charlotte 49ers

6’2”, 247 lbs.

Last season, Demetrius Knight recorded 96 tackles, three INTs (returned one for a touchdown), 5.5 tackles for loss, and four pass breakups. In addition, Knight posted three games with double-digit tackles, including a season-high 13 stops against South Florida. 

In the Memphis game, Knight recorded 11 tackles and an INT. For his efforts, Knight was named 1st Team All-Conference USA. With Knight joining Williams in the linebacker room, the Gamecocks could have one of the best linebacker corps in the SEC.

WR Jared Brown

Previous School: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

6’0”, 190 lbs.

Earning Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt Conference accolades last season, Jared Brown caught 58 passes for 740 yards and four touchdowns. In addition, Brown rushed for 252 yards on the season and a touchdown, a run that covered 77 yards in a 30-16 win over Jacksonville State. 

In a 34-6 win over Marshall, Brown caught five balls for 117 yards and two touchdowns. Brown gained over 1,000 all-purpose yards last season and caught 107 catches for 1,529 yards and 10 TDs in two seasons at Coastal Carolina. He will certainly help to ease the pain of losing Wells to Ole Miss.

The Gamecocks return experience at LB, TE, CB, and OL. The 2024 schedule is daunting and SEC games will be played without divisions. South Carolina will host LSU, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Missouri. They go on the road for conference games at Kentucky, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Vanderbilt. In addition, the Gamecocks play their arch-rival Clemson on the road to finish the regular season.

With Doty and QB LaNorris Sellers likely to battle for QB1 reps, if one can establish himself as the starter at the most important position on the field, the Gamecocks have a good chance to improve significantly from last season and get back to being successful playing “Beamer Ball.”  

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