On Thursday night, South Carolina head football coach Shane Beamer announced that wide receiver Ahmari Huggins-Bruce is no longer with the Gamecocks. Huggins-Bruce has re-enrolled at the University of Louisville after leaving South Carolina at the end of last season.
Huggins-Bruce’s mother is now defending him against criticism from some Cardinals fans who are unhappy about his return.
A former three-star recruit from the Class of 2021, Huggins-Bruce received 34 offers out of high school but chose to play in the ACC as South Carolina did not offer him a spot. At Louisville, he was a key player, finishing third in receptions as a freshman and sophomore, and continued to be a reliable receiver and big-play threat in 2023.
After participating in all 13 games for the Cardinals last season, the 5-foot-11, 170-pound receiver entered the transfer portal. Beamer reached out and Huggins-Bruce joined South Carolina for spring practice and training camp.
However, things took a turn when he missed practice on Tuesday and Wednesday, leading to speculation about his status with the team. The Gamecocks did not confirm his roster status until Thursday night.
On Friday morning, Huggins-Bruce posted a farewell message on X (formerly Twitter), and Cardinal Authority confirmed his return to Louisville. It remains unclear whether he retained his scholarship or is joining as a walk-on.
The situation has sparked some skepticism among Louisville fans about the potential impact of his return. The university has yet to comment on Huggins-Bruce’s re-enrollment, and only time will reveal if his return proves to be beneficial for the team.
