Gamecocks transfer portal class continues to receive national recognition
South Carolina football’s 2022 transfer portal class was named the No. 5 “biggest winner” in the transfer portal this offseason by On3 on Friday.
That news came as On3 made a final and substantial update to its 2022 Transfer Portal Rankings following the May 1 deadline, which was the last day players could enter the portal and still be eligible to play this season at a new team.
The article said:
Shane Beamer and company are quickly changing the national perspective of the South Carolina Gamecocks as a mid-level SEC East squad, to a legitimate contender for major recruits, transfers, and may soon be at the level where they can compete with the likes of Georgia in the division.
The first step in that process was securing the commitment of former five-star quarterback Spencer Rattler. With his former OU teammate in Austin Stogner joining him in Columbia, along with the talented recruiting class and retiring players, Beamer has the rest of the SEC on notice heading into the 2022 season.
The South Carolina incoming transfer who made the biggest jump in the new rankings is wide receiver Antwane Wells Jr. who joined the Gamecocks in the spring after two incredibly productive seasons at James Madison.
Wells went from unranked in the portal rankings to a four-star prospect and the No. 10 receiver and No. 47 overall prospect in the portal for 2022. A well-deserved bump after he put together an extremely impressive spring practice with the Gamecocks.
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While Beamer says he wants for his program to be a destination spot for all prospects — not just transfers — he did admit that there’s something to be said for players having a better feel for the recruiting process during the second time through.
“They’ve been through the recruiting process before,” Beamer told Gamecock Central. “They’re very black and white about what they’re looking for. Being able to see through the crap as well, the people that are just feeding them a line and who’s real. Then, being able to really hone in on, this is what I’m looking for and this is the kind of place for me. I like the other part of it, with the guys that have never been through recruiting before, that’s great and all. But this is certainly a different dynamic because you’ve got older guys that, they’re looking for something specific and they feel like we have it.”
The Gamecocks landed nine prospects from the portal this class, seven of which are already on campus.
Top 5 Gamecocks transfers according to On3
QB Spencer Rattler – No. 5 overall, No. 3 QB
WR Antwane Wells Jr. – No. 47 overall, No. 10 WR
TE Austin Stogner – No. 68 overall, No. 3 TE
DB Devonni Reed – No. 88 overall
RB Christian Beal-Smith – No. 111 overall, No. 11 RB
