The South Carolina football program will again operate without one of their best offensive linemen in 2024. Per Matt Zenitz of 247Sports, Gamecocks offensive tackle Jaylen Nichols will enter the transfer portal.
South Carolina offensive lineman Jaylen Nichols has entered the transfer portal, @chris_hummer and I have learned for @247sports.
Missed this year due to an injury but was the Gamecocks’ starting left tackle in 2022 and a starting guard in 2021.https://t.co/tknb8QX6wA pic.twitter.com/jju0gR7W96
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 20, 2023
Nichols missed the entire 2023 season after suffering a knee injury in the spring. Nichols joins former Virginia offensive tackle Tapuvae Amaama, UTEP standout Steven Hubbard, and former Georgia Tech offensive lineman Paul Tchino as the most recent bookends to end the transfer portal.
Jaylen Nichols: Longtime Starter with South Carolina Football
Nichols missed the entire 2023 season with a knee injury but made 38 appearances from 2019 to 2022. He started four games as a freshman, earning his first start against the Kentucky Wildcats after an injury to fellow lineman Dylan Wonnum. However, he suffered a high ankle sprain later in the season, limiting his playing time to conclude his first year with the Gamecocks. After performing in a backup role as a sophomore, Nichols started seven games in 2021. He again missed time with injury but started his team’s last three games at left tackle. The North Carolina native appeared in 12 games in 2022, making seven starts at left tackle.
A three-star prospect in the class of 2019, Nichols is a six-foot-five, 318-pound offensive lineman with experience. He can play both the guard and tackle position and should be completely healthy for the start of spring football.
South Carolina Gamecocks: Miss First Bowl Game Under Shane Beamer
The South Carolina football program finished the season 5-7, one win shy of qualifying for a bowl game. The Gamecocks are in their third season under head coach Shane Beamer, posting their first losing season under the former Oklahoma Sooners assistant. Offensively, the Gamecocks struggled, with quarterback Spencer Rattler failing to take a massive stride during his fifth college season. The Arizona native and former Oklahoma Sooners signal-caller threw for 3,186 yards and 19 scores against eight picks.
However, the rushing attack also struggled, with South Carolina averaging a conference-worst 2.8 yards per rush attempt. Former Arkansas Razorbacks star running back Rocket Sanders committed to Beamer and the Gamecocks early this week, potentially providing the team with a significant boost next season. Sanders has registered 2,685 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns across three college seasons.
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