South Carolina loses a top-notch linebacker to the transfer portal just 48 hours after getting his commitment.
The transfer portal can be a double-edged sword, offering excitement one day and disappointment the next. Just 48 hours after South Carolina secured the commitment of Andrew Jones, the Southwestern Athletic Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year from Grambling, the linebacker is now headed elsewhere.
Jones, one of the top targets in the transfer portal, was highly sought after by schools looking to strengthen their defense. His addition would have been a significant boost for South Carolina, especially with the Gamecocks’ linebacker depth already thin due to departures from graduation and the NFL draft. His commitment was seen as a key move for the program.
However, even after pledging to South Carolina, Jones had an official visit scheduled with Ole Miss, an SEC rival. While Gamecocks fans understood that a commitment wasn’t a guaranteed lock, they hoped Jones would at least visit Columbia, South Carolina, before making any further decisions. Instead, he has now decided to commit to a different school, leaving South Carolina fans disappointed and once again reminded of the unpredictable nature of the transfer portal.
BREAKING: Grambling transfer LB Andrew Jones has flipped from South Carolina to Ole Miss, he tells @on3sports
The 6’2 225 LB totaled 122 Tackles, 3 Sacks, 20 TFL & 1 FF this season
Was named SWAC Co-DPOY & SWAC All-American
1 year of eligibility lefthttps://t.co/RlUbB6EMhS pic.twitter.com/s0iLIBx3WT
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 20, 2024
Jones had just one year of eligibility left, so while his arrival wouldn’t have been a long-term solution, it still stings to see him transfer to a rival school—especially one that’s on South Carolina’s 2025 schedule.
Now, head coach Shane Beamer will have to turn back to the transfer portal to address the linebacker position, which has been hit hard by graduation and potential NFL departures. Key players like Demetrius Knight Jr., Debo Williams, and Bam Martin-Scott are all leaving, leaving a significant void in the linebacker room.
The Gamecocks have already been impacted by both the transfer portal and NFL declarations on both sides of the ball. With only a little over two weeks left in the current portal window, Beamer and his staff will need to act quickly to strengthen their defense going forward.
On a positive note, this isn’t the final opportunity for the Gamecocks to bolster their roster before next season. The spring transfer portal window will open on April 16, 2025, and close on April 28, 2025, right in the middle of spring practices, giving Beamer another chance to address any lingering needs.
