2024 redshirts who could play a major role for South Carolina in 2025

The 2024 season might not be over for South Carolina, but as far as tracking redshirts go, the numbers are final. The Gamecocks’ trip to the Citrus Bowl will not count against players’ four-game redshirt status.

So, which 2024 redshirts could be in line for a much bigger role in 2025?***

***Things could change at any time due to players entering the transfer portal or South Carolina bringing in players from the transfer portal. This list also only includes players who are redshirting in 2024. All participation statistics are from the official South Carolina Athletics stats on gamecocksonline.com.

[GamecockCentral: Subscribe for $1 for 7 days]

Offense

Quarterback

Dante Reno: A former Under Armour All-American, Reno is a true freshman 3-star who didn’t log any statistics this season. He saw brief action at the end of the Akron contest. LaNorris Sellers is the team’s starting quarterback, but Reno should be higher on the depth chart next season. Backup quarterbacks are the most important players who coaches hope never have to play. Whenever Sellers is in the NFL, Reno will compete for the starting gig. He will be a redshirt freshman in 2025.

Running Back

Jawarn Howell: Howell is a true sophomore transfer portal addition from South Carolina State. He played in exactly four games this season and looked good, though, most of his playing time came against overmatched opponents or in blowouts. He had two rushing scores this season. Unless there are personnel changes between now and then, Howell will battle with Oscar Adaway to be the top running back at the start of next season. He will be a redshirt sophomore in 2025.

Matthew Fuller: Fuller is a true freshman 4-star. The Georgia native played sparingly in two contests this season. Fuller could be a factor in next year’s running back rotation and has a bright future as a player. As things stand, he will compete with fellow 2024 reserves Jawarn Howell and Oscar Adaway for carries. He will be a redshirt freshman in 2025.

Offensive Line

Tree Babalade: Not your typical redshirt, Babalade is a true sophomore who started most of the 2023 campaign and picked up a start this year. Still, the big fella played in just four games to preserve his redshirt. Babalade will compete for a starting role somewhere on next year’s offensive line, and even if he doesn’t win a job, a spot in the two-deep likely will be his. He will be a redshirt sophomore in 2025.

Kam Pringle: Pringle is a 4-star true freshman tackle. He doesn’t have much experience, but his prospect pedigree indicates he could factor into the two-deep next year. Probably the biggest player on the team, Pringle battled some injuries in the preseason and then played in just one game. He will be a redshirt freshman in 2025.

Jakai Moore and Aaryn Parks: Both Moore and Parks are redshirt seniors who have medical redshirts available to them this fall due to injuries. Both players also have enough versatility to play tackle or guard. If the veteran linemen return (and are healthy), they could get involved in the battle for snaps up front. Moore and Parks each were viewed as being inside the two-deep at times before their preseason injuries. They will be redshirt seniors (again) in 2025.

Blake Franks: Franks is a 3-star true freshman who can play just about any position on the offensive line. He saw brief playing time in two games this season. Moving forward, he likely will play on the interior and could be in the mix in the two-deep if things go well for him. Franks still could use some development, but he had scholarship offers from just about every major program for a reason. He will be a redshirt freshman in 2025.

[On3 App: Get South Carolina push notifications from GamecockCentral]

Defense

Defensive Line

Nick Barrett: A true senior, Barrett is not a typical redshirt, either. After playing in every game the past two seasons, the big defensive tackle saw action in just four contests. However, because of his return, Barrett could be in for a larger role on the South Carolina line next year. The defensive tackle position is thin right now, so big No. 93 could play a lot. He will be a redshirt senior in 2025.

Wendell Gregory: Gregory, who moved from linebacker to EDGE last preseason, is a true freshman 4-star. An athletic pass rusher, he still needs to add weight but has a very high ceiling as a player. This season, Gregory played in two games, but he will get more action next fall. He will be a redshirt freshman in 2025.

Secondary

Jalewis Solomon: A 4-star true freshman corner, Solomon could be an important piece next season. He played in just three games in 2024. Solomon will battle with several other talented young corners for playing time next year and could get involved at nickel if Jalon Kilgore moves to safety full-time to replace the (likely) NFL-bound Nick Emmanwori. He will be a redshirt freshman in 2025.

Kelvin Hunter: Hunter is a 4-star true freshman safety who saw action in three games this season. The Palmetto State native was listed on the depth chart at nickel when he was healthy. Next year, he will battle for a spot in the two-deep at safety and nickel and should see some action. A solid tackler, Hunter likely will play a lot on special teams, as well. He will be a redshirt freshman in 2025.

Zahbari Sandy: After suffering an ACL tear during the preseason, Sandy is eligible for a medical redshirt despite also redshirting in 2023. He did not play at all this year but got into two games in his first year on campus. Sandy is a big-bodied safety, and while he likely is pretty far down the depth chart right now, if he’s healthy, he could become a special teams contributor. He will be a redshirt freshman in 2025.

[Get our free newsletter! Don’t rely on search engines and social media for your Gamecock info.]

Special Teams

Mason Love: Love is a scholarship true freshman punter/kicker who spent most of his first year working as a punter. However, he also practiced as a kicker and could factor into the open position battles at both positions during the offseason; he will compete with incoming freshman Max Kelley and several former walk-ons. Because of the presence of two senior starters this fall, Love didn’t see any game action. He will be a redshirt freshman in 2025.

Gunnar Yocum: A true freshman walk-on, Yocum sat behind veteran Hunter Rogers at long snapper. With Rogers graduating, though, someone will have to snap next season. Kyler Farrow is coming in on scholarship, and a couple of veteran walk-ons also could be in the mix with Yocum. He will be a redshirt freshman in 2025.

Discuss South Carolina football on The Insiders Forum!