The latest on Jordan Strachan
As far as South Carolina is concerned, all signs point to veteran EDGE Jordan Strachan being eligible to play for the Gamecocks during the 2023 season.
Strachan entered the 2022 season as a “Super Senior,” hoping to put together a strong final year of production before making a run at the NFL.
But the former Georgia State standout who transferred to Carolina prior to the 2021 campaign saw his 2022 season cut short before it even got rolling due to a torn ACL in Week 2.
Since the Kingsland, Ga. native also missed almost the entire 2019 season after suffering a knee injury in the first game, it gave him a strong case with the NCAA for an additional year.
“As far as I know,” head coach Shane Beamer told Gamecock Central Wednesday when asked if Strachan was good to go for this year. “I’ve been asked that a few times and it’s not even a discussion with us. We’re full-speed ahead and don’t think there’s any issue. Never once has anyone said Jordan isn’t going to be able to (come back). I hope I didn’t just jinx myself but I don’t see that as any kind of concern right now.”
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The 6-foot-5, 245-pounder’s return is massive for a South Carolina defense that lost EDGEs Jordan Burch and Gilber Edmond to the transfer portal during the offseason.
Prior to the injury, Strachan and Burch were the Gamecocks’ two starters after both served as second-teamers in 2021.
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Beamer said earlier this month during halftime of a Carolina basketball game that it would be a big spring for everyone at the position.
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“I’m all about increasing the competition and depth at every position. That EDGE position is still a concern. But I’m excited about the guys we have in the program right now that are returning. It’s time for all those guys,” Beamer said.
“Whether it’s an older guy like Tyreek Johnson, Jordan Strachan or Terrell Dawkins or a young guy like a Bryan Thomas. It’s time for all those guys to take another step and be the best they can be in 2023.”
While Tonka Hemingway has shown in the past that he is more than capable of playing outside, the staff would like to keep him inside at defensive tackle.
“In our minds right now, Tonka is a defensive tackle and Elijah (Davis) is a defensive tackle. Let’s continue to try and develop that EDGE position around them as well,” he said. “There is another portal window coming up. We’ll see what’s available.”
The next transfer portal window opens after spring practice and runs for 15 days starting May 1.
