Gamecocks add transfer portal tight end

After being on the wrong end of the transfer portal for most of the week, South Carolina got back on the winning side of it today when former Florida tight end Nick Elksnis announced his pledge to the Gamecocks.

“To be honest with you, I’ve been committed since Thursday,” Elksnis told GamecockCentral.com “I’ve just been waiting to get pictures and a graphic before I announced it.”

ALSO SEE: Reactions and scoop from Gamecocks’ massive recruiting weekend

The 6-foot-6, 250-pounder took an unofficial visit to South Carolina on Thursday, taking in the Gamecocks’ first Gator Bowl practice at the indoor practice facility.

He was slated to visit Oklahoma after the trip to Columbia, but changed course after his first day on campus.

“Before I even got in the truck to drive home, I knew this is where I wanted to go. I was like an hour outside of Columbia and called Coach Beamer and told him I was committing. We drove back up the next day, because my dad had never been here before. It was me, my mom, and my dad.”

That led to a more extended stay that became an official visit for Elksnis and his family.

“I called Oklahoma and told them I appreciated their interest and all that, but I’m going to South Carolina,” he explained. “It’s a better opportunity. I’m close to home, can stay in the SEC, I get a chance to play Florida every year, which is huge. It was kind of a no brainer for me.”

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The commitment is part of a massive recruiting weekend for the Gamecocks. Elksnis’ pledge is one of five commitments that the Gamecocks have landed in the last few days, with four of those yet to be revealed.

The way that Shane Beamer runs his program appealed in a big way to the Sunshine State product.

“Opportunity in the tight end room is obviously a huge one, but the reason I’m so confident in my decision is the culture that he has there,” said Elksnis. “Being up there, being around the coaching staff, being around practice and the meetings, there’s just a different vibe around that program than I’ve seen at just about any other program.”

A former four-star prospect, Elksnis spent the last two seasons at Florida, redshirting while playing in four games his first year and then primarily playing on special teams in his second year.

A Jacksonville, Fla. native and Episcopal High graduate, Elksnis was ranked the No. 15 tight end and No. 390 overall recruit in the 2021 cycle, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

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The Elksnis addition comes at a major position of need as South Carolina will have to completely revamp its tight end room for 2023. He will join the team in January.

Jaheim Bell and Austin Stogner entered the transfer portal earlier this month while Nate Adkins is out of eligibility and Trae Kenion decided to retire from football.

“I hope to be able to bring whatever they need,” Elksnis said. “I’ve already been talking to the special teams coordinator. I’m looking forward to having a big role on special teams. I’m looking forward to blocking, looking forward to catching touchdowns. I’m really coming to South Carolina because there’s so much opportunity for me to do a lot. I would definitely say in the past year or so, I’ve gotten a lot better at blocking. I don’t have a problem sticking my face in there and I also look forward to running routes.”

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