Recruiting sites aren’t as impressed with USC football’s transfer class. Here’s why

Chapel Fowler
Dwayne McLemore/dmclemore@thestate.com

South Carolina’s first transfer portal recruiting class under Shane Beamer, which included star quarterback Spencer Rattler, ranked among the nation’s best for 2022.

As for 2023? Not as much.

USC, entering its third season under Beamer, has supplemented the nation’s No. 16 high school recruiting class for 2023 with 10 transfer portal signees for this fall.

But that group, highlighted by former Syracuse defensive lineman Jatius Geer, Arkansas tight end Trey Knox and Newberry College running back Mario Anderson, slots significantly lower than last year’s transfer class, according to the latest rankings.

With the spring transfer portal window closed, South Carolina ranks No. 30 nationally in 247Sports’ team rankings for transfer signing classes and No. 45 on On3 Sports.

That’s a notable but somewhat expected drop from the 2022 cycle, when a class headlined by former Oklahoma quarterback Rattler and James Madison receiver Antwane Wells Jr. ranked No. 8 on 247Sports’ list and No. 3 by On3 Sports.

For SEC schools only, South Carolina ranks No. 8 on 247Sports’ 2023 transfer list and No. 10 with On3 Sports among 14 schools. (In 2022, USC was No. 3 and No. 2 in those rankings, respectively.)

Outside of Geer, Knox and Anderson, USC’s bringing in six more scholarship transfers and two more as preferred walk-ons who will have a chance to earn a scholarship.

And a number of those players could have an immediate impact. The State’s post-spring practice depth chart projections had numerous transfers taking on two-deep depth chart roles, including Knox, former Western Illinois offensive lineman Sidney Fugar and Memphis wide receiver Eddie Lewis as starters on offense.

Geer and Ole Miss linebacker Jaron Willis could see early snaps on defense, while Yale offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo could be an offensive depth piece. But the group is, overall, lacking in star power, at least by recruiting website metrics.

It’s not a massive drop-off in terms of year-to-year acquisitions, but it was enough to for USC (which had a modestly sized transfer class compared to other schools) to slide far below SEC rivals such as Auburn, which signed 11 four-star recruits into the nation’s No. 2 transfer recruiting class. Or LSU, which had nine four-star recruits in its No. 4 transfer class.

On3 Sports ranked South Carolina’s transfer class even lower due to its Team Transfer Portal Index, which, according to the site, uses to an algorithm to “determines if a school has improved its overall team talent, stayed the same or declined in talent during the transfer window.”

It’s not too dissimilar from the NBA’s plus-minus metric. Did you lose more or gain more from the portal? That hurt USC in On3 Sports’ rankings, as the Gamecocks lost a prominent number of contributors to other schools this cycle.

Edge rushers Jordan Burch (Oregon) and Gilber Edmond (Florida State), running back MarShawn Lloyd (Southern Cal) and tight end Jaheim Bell (Florida State) all left South Carolina for other Power Five schools.

By On3 Sports’ rankings, that meant South Carolina lost three four-star transfer recruits while adding zero while essentially breaking even with nine three-star transfers in and 10 out.

The Gamecocks’ final Team Transfer Portal Index was a minus-2. For reference, the top three schools were Colorado (+64), Louisville (+64) and Southern Cal (+60), while Auburn (+42) and LSU (+37) led the SEC.

Ranking below South Carolina in that metric were Vanderbilt (-3), Georgia (-12), Alabama (-20) and Texas A&M (-34).

The Gamecocks kick off their 2023 season on Saturday, Sept. 2 against North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Classic. The game will be played at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium, home of the Carolina Panthers.

South Carolina 2023 transfer class

  • RB Mario Anderson, Newberry

  • TE Nick Elksnis, Florida

  • TE Trey Knox, Arkansas

  • TE Joshua Simon, Western Kentucky

  • OL Nick Gargiulo, Yale

  • OL Sidney Fugar, Western Illinois

  • OL Jaxon Hughes, Charlotte (PWO)

  • OL Ni Mansell, Mercer (PWO)

  • LB Jaron Willis, Ole Miss

  • WR Eddie Lewis, Memphis

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