News and notes: More details on Karon Prunty's South Carolina departure

At South Carolina’s Media Day last Thursday, Karon Prunty sat and met with local reporters without giving any indication whatsoever that his status with the Gamecocks’ program could be changing in the near future.

“Everybody’s really good guys (on the coaching staff),” Prunty, a prized cornerback transfer from Kansas, told Gamecock Central. “It just felt like home when I first came here. It was closer to home, like five hours away. So I just felt like this was the perfect fit for me.”

One week later, Prunty no longer is part of the team. His entry into the NCAA Transfer Portal on Thursday came just seven days after making those comments and less than two months after the Gamecocks landed his commitment. Prunty, a former three-star recruit from Portsmouth (Va.) Norcom, was a 2020 Freshman All-America cornerback at Kansas.

Sources attributed the decision to personal issues and indicated that Prunty hadn’t practiced in several days. After a Gamecocks staffer met with Prunty on Wednesday to talk through the issues, Prunty informed the staff Thursday of his decision to transfer.

It’s an unfortunate development for South Carolina for multiple reasons: 

1. It leaves the Gamecocks, who have limited experience at cornerback, to move forward without a likely starter; Prunty opened camp as a first-team cornerback.

2. If South Carolina hadn’t landed Prunty, it might have a different transfer at cornerback who’d be capable of starting — former Alabama player Brandon Turnage.

After leaving Alabama, Turnage committed to Georgia, then changed his mind and opted to look for a different landing spot. A source told On3 that South Carolina would have had a good chance of landing him. But the Gamecocks basically had to pick between Turnage and Prunty (with both being cornerbacks) and the staff was locked in on Prunty. Turnage ended up at Tennessee, which coincidentally was the runner-up for Prunty. And now South Carolina doesn’t have either.

Tough injury blow for Kentucky

Kentucky four-star freshman wide receiver Dekel Crowdus is believed to have suffered a significant knee injury, sources told On3.

Crowdus, from Lexington (Ky.) Douglass, was the top-ranked offensive player in Kentucky’s 2021 signing class. He was a consensus national top-300 player and one of four consensus four-star recruits in UK’s 2021 class.

Kentucky is rebuilding its passing attack under new coordinator Liam Coen, who was hired off the Los Angeles Rams’ staff. While Crowdus was unlikely to start, the opportunity for playing time was there. UK’s go-to receiver is expected to be Nebraska transfer Wan’Dale Robinson, but only one returning wide receiver, Josh Ali, had more than 14 catches last season.

All-conference punter headed to the Big 12

Former Arizona State punter Michael Turk, a first-team All-Pac 12 selection last season, entered the transfer portal last week and has committed to Oklahoma. He made the announcement via Instagram. 

In the wake of Turk’s departure from Arizona State, news broke that the decision evidently was in part because of his opposition to the COVID-19 vaccine. Arizona State is requiring players to be vaccinated before traveling to road games.

Turk is the second Sun Devils special-teamer to transfer to Oklahoma this year. Kickoff specialist and punter Josh Plaster left ASU and selected the Sooners in April.

Other South Carolina transfer news

A Gamecocks offensive lineman has joined Prunty in the transfer portal. Guard Jordan Rhodes, a 10-game starter for South Carolina in 2019, entered the portal Friday morning, On3 learned.

Rhodes, a three-star recruit in the 2017 class from the Atlanta area, initially opted out last season, then rejoined the team and played in four games in a reserve role.