Jordan Burch heading to the West Coast to finish college career

Former South Carolina defensive end Jordan Burch has a new home.

The former five-star recruit announced on Wednesday via Twitter that he’s transferring to Oregon. Burch was previously recruited by Oregon head coach Dan Lanning when he was at Georgia.

The ex-Hammond School star had his most productive year to date at South Carolina this fall, notching career highs in tackles (56), tackles for a loss (7.5) and sacks (3.5).

Burch, the No. 8 player in the the 2020 class, was the second-highest-rated recruit in school history, per the 247 Sports Composite, behind just Jadeveon Clowney.

With Burch’s departure, South Carolina is deathly thin at defensive end heading into the spring. The Gamecocks have already lost both Gilber Edmond and reserve edge rusher Hot Rod Fitten to the transfer portal.

Jordan Strachan — who starred at Georgia State before transferring to South Carolina — missed the bulk of the 2022 season after going down with a season-ending injury Week 2 at Arkansas. Strachan is reportedly petitioning the NCAA for a seventh year of eligibility to be able to play in 2023.

The Gamecocks also went heavy on their defensive line over the previous two recruiting cycles. Freshman Bryan Thomas Jr. was the lone edge rusher in the 2022 class (Along with four other interior defensive linemen), but South Carolina signed four-star pass rushers Desmond Umeozulu and Monteque Rhames in this cycle.

Gamecocks in the transfer portal

Each player’s landing spot is listed in parentheses

DE Jordan Burch — Jan. 5 (Oregon)

RB Rashad Amos — Jan. 1 (Miami of Ohio)

DE Hot Rod Fitten — Dec. 31

LS Matthew Bailey — Dec. 31

DE Gilber Edmond — Dec. 15 (Florida State)

WR Corey Rucker — Dec. 14 (Arkansas State)

RB MarShawn Lloyd — Dec. 12 (Southern Cal)

DB Tyrese Ross — Dec. 6

TE Jaheim Bell — Dec. 5 (Florida State)

TE Austin Stogner — Dec. 5 (Oklahoma)

LB Darryle Ware — Dec. 5

DB Joey Hunter — Dec. 5 (Akron)

OL Jordan Davis — Nov. 30 (South Alabama)

DB R.J. Roderick — Oct. 17 (Liberty)