Welcome Home! Palmetto State native Jayden McGowan commits to South Carolina
From the moment Vanderbilt wide receiver and South Carolina native Jayden McGowan entered the transfer portal, it made sense for the Gamecocks to pursue the Laurens (S.C.) graduate.
After an official visit over the weekend, McGowan has made the decision to come home, announcing a commitment to the Gamecocks on Wednesday.
South Carolina Transfer Portal Resources:
- South Carolina Target Watchlist
- South Carolina Portal Tracker
- On3 National Portal Tracker
- Get portal news notifications with the App
South Carolina offered McGowan last Monday and he quickly set an official visit to Columbia.
The 5-foot-8, 181-pounder emerged as one of Vanderbilt’s top receivers and primary kickoff returner during his two seasons in Nashville.
McGowan accumulated 80 catches for 836 yards and three touchdowns during those two seasons to go along with 160 yards on the ground and 845 yards as a kickoff returner.
McGowan played in 24 games, starting 18, during his Vanderbilt career.
He is the second wide receiver commitment to South Carolina out of the portal, joining Coastal Carolina transfer Jared Brown, who announced a pledge on Monday after also taking an official visit.
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Jayden McGowan Vanderbilt Bio
As a Sophomore (2023)
• Totaled 987 all-purpose yards, averaging 82.3 yards per game in 2023
• Logged 82 all-purpose yards and registered a 35-yard kick return in the game versus Auburn
• Returned a kickoff for 97 yards and a touchdown in win over Hawai’i
• Hornung Award Honor Roll (Sept. 6)
• Hornung Award Watch List
As a Freshman (2022)
• Third team All-SEC kick returner (Phil Steele)
• Named to SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
• Played in all 12 games as a freshman, catching 44 passes for 453 yards and three touchdowns
• Had at least two catches in 11-of-12 games on the season
• Returned 16 kickoffs for 384 yards
• 24 yards per kickoff return ranked third in the SEC and 20th in FBS
• Touchdown among three receptions in win over Florida
• Totaled 104 receiving yards and a touchdown on a season-best seven catches against Ole Miss
• Recorded a touchdown and 118 receiving yards in win against Elon
• Named SEC Freshman of the Week for performance against the Phoenix, Vanderbilt’s first freshman of the week since 2018
The McGowan File
• Enrolled at Vanderbilt in January 2022
• Played at Laurens District 55 High School for coach Daryl Smith
• Three-star prospect ranked by ESPN and On3 as the No. 6 player in the state of South Carolina and a top-100 wide receiver nationally
• Received both all-state and all-region honors following his senior campaign
• Grabbed 38 catches for 817 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior
• Returned 13 punts for 317 yards and two scores, as well as eight kickoffs for 250 yards
• Blocked a pair of kicks
• Ran 22 times for 263 yards
• A two-sport athlete who also lettered in track and field
• Fastest athlete in South Carolina, running the 100-meters in 10.6 seconds and the 200-meters in 21.6 seconds
• Earned scholarship offer after private Vanderbilt workout during 2021 summer
• Majoring in medicine, health and society
