South Carolina linebacker Stone Blanton entering transfer portal
South Carolina linebacker Stone Blanton is entering the NCAA transfer portal, he announced Saturday.
The Mississippi native just completed his second year in Columbia, having played in all 12 games during the 2023 season.
As a sophomore, he tallied 52 tackles, a forced fumble, an interception returned for a touchdown, and a sack for the Gamecocks.
Blanton was signed by USC out of the 2022 class and was rated by the On3 Industry Ranking as a four-star prospect. He was additionally ranked as the eighth-best prospect in the state of Mississippi and the number 278 prospect in the country overall.
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Stone Blanton Bio From GamecocksOnline.com
* 2022-23 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll
Second-year linebacker who can play the Mike or Will position… gained some valuable experience as a true freshman in 2022… possesses good football IQ… understand the schemes, can diagnose a play and can direct more traffic… has worked hard on his body in the off-season and figures to look like a different player this fall.
2022 (Freshman)
True freshman who saw action in 12 of 13 games… did not see action against Charlotte… accumulated seven tackles, including five solo stops… credited with 1.5 tackles for loss and one pass breakup… logged a pair of tackles against both Texas A&M and Florida… notched his first career tackle for loss and pass breakup in the win over South Carolina State… also had a half-tackle for loss at Florida… named to the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.
HIGH SCHOOL
Graduated from Madison-Ridgeland Academy in Jackson, Miss. in 2022… was also an outstanding baseball player… was a semifinalist (top 15) for the high school Butkus Award… selected to play in the Under Armour All-America game… named the MAIS 6A Defensive Player of the Year after leading the Patriots to an 11-3 record and the state championship… also named the WAPT/Blitz 16 Player of the Year… led the Patriots with 125 tackles, 26 TFLs and 11 sacks as a senior… credited with 99 tackles, 11 TFLs and five sacks as a junior… logged 61 tackles with 14.5 TFLs and four sacks as a sophomore in 2019… coached by Herbert Davis… considered the seventh-best player in the state of Mississippi, the 28th-best linebacker in the nation and No. 285 overall by 247Sports Composite… rated as the 14th-best player in the state and the 13th-best inside linebacker in the country by Rivals… rated No. 230 on the ESPN300 list.
PERSONAL
Archer Stone Blanton was born Sept. 12, 2002… is undeclared on his major.
