Gamecocks’ Portal Tracker: Ins, Outs and a Blockbuster Exit
Since Jan. 2, the Gamecocks have been a whirlwind in the transfer portal, adding blue-chip linemen and skill players while losing a parade of contributors. This tracker breaks down the incoming group led by four-star OT Jacarrius Peak, and the exodus of wide receiver Vandrevius Jacobs to Miami, plus two dozen others shifting schools, all wrapped up with the surprise announcement that starting left tackle Josiah Thompson has pulled out of the portal himself. It’s a 2026 roster roller coaster.
In the immortal words of South Carolina’s athletic department: “Hold my beer, we’ve got more transfers.” One can almost hear the coaches furiously refreshing the portal window like it’s Black Friday and last-minute deals are slipping away. The sheer number of one-minute wonders entering and exiting the Gamecock roster resembles a reality dating show, where the football coach woos a parade of recruits only to wonder where they disappeared. Next up: will they offer scholarships to GPS coordinators?
Josiah Thompson Rebuffs Rumors, Sticks with Gamecocks
Starting left tackle Josiah Thompson has officially withdrawn his name from the NCAA transfer portal just days before the Jan. 16 deadline. After two seasons anchoring the South Carolina offensive line—even as a true freshman—Thompson surprised fans by deciding to return for the 2026 campaign. His retention, alongside newcomer Jacarrius Peak, secures two key spots up front and injects optimism into a Gamecocks offense eager to protect quarterback LaNorris Sellers.
Nothing says “commitment” like waltzing into a digital transfer showroom, window-shopping your future, then strutting right back to the home team. Thompson’s about-face feels like a cliffhanger in a telenovela—just when you thought he might head south, he sticks around for more drama. We’re just waiting for the spin doctor to spin this as “growth through warm, familiar turf.” Next time he enters that portal, somebody should install a revolving door.
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