Eligibility guide for South Carolina football's incoming transfer portal additions

South Carolina football needed to fill some roster holes this offseason through the transfer portal. Shane Beamer and company have done well to address most of those needs.

So far this cycle, South Carolina has received transfer portal pledges from offensive linemen Nick Sharpe (Wake Forest), Rodney Newsom (Western Kentucky), and Boaz Stanley (Troy), defensive tackle Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy (Texas A&M), linebackers Shawn Murphy (Florida State) and Justin Okoronkwo (Alabama), tight end Jordan Dingle (Kentucky), EDGE Jaylen Brown (Missouri), defensive back Myles Norwood (Ball State), running back Rahsul Faison (Utah State), and quarterback Air Noland (Ohio State).

But in the age of four-game redshirts, free transfers, uncertain junior college rules, the infamous 2020 “Covid redshirt,” and readily available medical waivers, figuring out a player’s remaining eligibility can be difficult. So how much potential time in college do each of these incoming Gamecocks have remaining?***

***Some of these players’ eligibility numbers aren’t finalized. Medical redshirts and the NCAA’s junior college situation could change things a bit. This article assumes players in those situations will receive their potential extra year. Players with an extra year stemming from a medical redshirt or junior college year have an asterisk.***

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One Year

These portal additions should have just one year left of college ball. In fact, several of them are graduate students already.

RB Rahsul Faison*: Originally part of the class of 2019, Faison went to junior college twice but found his way as an All-Mountain West ‘back at Utah State last season. Thanks to the NCAA’s recent waiver for junior college players, he is expected to have one final year in college. He will compete for the Gamecocks’ starting job.

TE Jordan Dingle: A class of 2021 prospect who spent four years at Kentucky, Dingle will play his last year in 2025. He redshirted as a true freshman and has had an up-and-down statistical career thanks to poor quarterback play in Lexington. He has family ties to South Carolina and will spend his final year in college with the Gamecocks. At USC, Dingle will compete for a rotation spot.

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Two Years

OL Rodney Newsom*: Despite being part of the class of 2020, the former Western Kentucky lineman could have up to two years of eligibility. 2020 doesn’t count because of the “Covid redshirt,” he took a traditional redshirt in 2021, and he then spent a season in junior college. Given the NCAA’s recent waiver for former JuCo players, he should be around for a couple of years. Newsom earned some All-Conference USA recognition in 2024 and will battle for a job on the interior of Carolina’s offensive line.

OL Nick Sharpe*: A class of 2021 Wake Forest signee, Sharpe could be with USC for two years. He redshirted back in ’21 and has a medical redshirt available for ’23. As a full-time starter at Wake this fall, Sharpe had his best season to date. He will compete for a starting job inside for offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley.

DB Myles Norwood*: With stops at Iowa Western, Iowa State, New Mexico State, and Ball State, Myles Norwood has been around the block. However, the former class of 2021 prospect could have two more years with South Carolina. His junior college stint, plus a redshirt at ISU, means he might be in Columbia through 2026. Expected to play corner with the Gamecocks, he will be a factor in the rotation this fall.

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More Than Two Years

QB Air Noland: A top-50 transfer portal player who was a top-50 recruit in the class of 2024, Noland could be in Columbia for a while. With LaNorris Sellers at the helm of the offense, Noland knew sitting in 2025 was his most likely future. Pending Sellers’ NFL pans, though, Noland could be the “next man up” for future versions of the Gamecocks. Because of a redshirt at Ohio State in 2024, he has four years left in college.

LB Justin Okoronkwo: Talk about upside. German linebacker Justin Okoronkwo is a freak athletically who grew up playing soccer and competing in gymnastics. A class of 2024 Alabama signee, Okoronkwo impressed the ‘Bama coaching staff enough to start on multiple special teams units and get some (limited) snaps on defense. He will have three years of eligibility remaining and could be a major factor in his first year in garnet and black.

EDGE Jaylen Brown: 4-star 2024 EDGE Jaylen Brown left a Missouri program that did not want to see him go. However, he will have three more years to make an impact with South Carolina. Replacing Nagurski Trophy-winner and consensus All-American Kyle Kennard won’t be easy for the Gamecocks. Brown almost certainly will be part of the formula across from stud sophomore Dylan Stewart.

DT Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy*: GBD was a former 5-star prospect in the class of 2022. The top-10 prospect signed with Texas A&M but hasn’t played much due to injuries. If healthy this fall, he could compete for a spot in the defensive tackle rotation in Columbia. After receiving both traditional and medical redshirts, Brownlow-Dindy should have three years left to play.

OL Boaz Stanley*: Expected to play center in Columbia, Stanley can line up anywhere on the offensive line. He started last season at Troy. Stanley was a junior college All-American in 2022 and took a medical redshirt in 2023. That means he has at least two years of eligibility remaining, and if the NCAA’s current stance on former junior college players remains, that number will bump up to three. He will compete for the center job next fall and could get involved at other positions.

LB Shawn Murphy*: A highly-rated 4-star in the class of 2022, Shawn Murphy spent three years at Alabama and Florida State. He redshirted in 2022 with the ‘Tide and, after transferring, was poised for a bigger role this fall with FSU. However, an injury kept him sidelined for all but four games. A medical redshirt for 2024 would give him up to three more years to play. He joins a linebacker room short on experience and could compete for a major role.

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