Report: South Carolina targeting Oregon’s Darren Uscher as director of player personnel

According to Matt Zenitz of 247Sports, South Carolina is “targeting” Darren Uscher to be the program’s next director of player personnel. Uscher currently works for Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks but would be returning to his old stomping grounds by joining the Gamecocks.

“South Carolina is targeting Oregon’s Darren Uscher for its director of player personnel position, sources tell @247sports,” Zenitz said via X. “In addition to working at Oregon, Uscher — a South Carolina alum — has been a GM at UCLA and a lead personnel figure at places like Auburn and Boise State.”

As mentioned, Uscher does have experience in the SEC, previously being at Auburn. Former head coach Bryan Harsin hired Uscher as the director of recruiting and player personnel. Harsin and Uscher previously had a relationship together due to being at Boise State together.

The offseason has been full of a few job changes for Uscher. He was at UCLA for a short period of time but when Chip Kelly left the program in favor of Ohio State, the Ducks were still there. However, the South Carolina opportunity presents a chance to return back to a familiar place with a nice job title.

At the time of posting, South Carolina has the No. 27 class per the On3 Industry Teams Rankings — good enough for 12th in the SEC.

Clemson reportedly turns down chance to move South Carolina game to Black Friday

South Carolina and Clemson will continue to play on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 2024, but if ESPN and the ACC had their way, that wouldn’t be the case.

According to TigerNet, the ACC and ESPN asked Clemson to move the South Carolina game to Black Friday this season. However, CU refused, and the game will remain on Saturday.

TigerNet found that information out by obtaining court documents.

The ACC and ESPN agreed to help Clemson out with its scheduling if the Tigers would move the Palmetto Bowl to Black Friday, but its offerings didn’t persuade the CU administration, including Athletics Director Graham Neff.

TigerNet reports that the ACC and ESPN offered to make the Tigers’ game against The Citadel on Nov. 23 a Noon kickoff, put the South Carolina vs. Clemson game in prime time, make the 2027 Labor Day Monday conference game at NC State a Clemson home game, only make the Tigers play two ACC road games in prime time in 2024 and have South Carolina host CU on Black Friday in the future. However, Clemson declined.

On3’s Matt Connolly contributed to this report