On Tuesday morning, South Carolina linebacker Bangally Kamara’s locker was cleared out, signaling his departure from the team. According to GamecockCentral, Kamara intends to sit out the rest of the season and enter the NCAA transfer portal.
Coach Shane Beamer confirmed this during his weekly press conference, explaining that Kamara approached him on Monday to discuss redshirting. Beamer noted, “I told him that’s not quite how this works,” emphasizing that they needed to consider his role on the team and whether redshirting was the best option.
This news comes as a surprise given Kamara’s contributions since transferring from Pitt in January. However, as a fifth-year senior, he would lose his college eligibility if he played in another game. Beamer highlighted that Kamara had played a season-high in snaps during the last game and was expected to continue playing more.
“My job is to do what’s best for the team,” Beamer said, noting that he wanted Kamara to help the team prepare for their upcoming game against Alabama. Ultimately, Beamer decided it would be best for Kamara to move on.
With the option to preserve his redshirt by playing in four games, Kamara can extend his college career into 2025 since he missed the Akron blowout. His absence will be felt on the Gamecocks’ defense, where he played 70 snaps, recorded nine tackles, and achieved the highest defensive grade among his teammates, according to Pro Football Focus.
In Kamara’s absence, true freshman linebacker Fred “JayR” Johnson, who has played in three games and shown solid tackling skills, could see more playing time. Veteran Mo Kaba will also have increased opportunities. Beamer reassured that the linebacker position remains strong and mentioned that he consulted with the defensive leaders, who fully supported his decision. “We wish him well in wherever his next stop is,” Beamer said, adding that the focus is on winning in 2024, not 2025.
