Transfer portal TE Nate Adkins commits to South Carolina
South Carolina football added additional tight end help for the 2022 season when East Tennessee State transfer portal tight end Nate Adkins committed to the Gamecocks on Tuesday.
The 6-foot-3, 240-pounder is the son of South Carolina offensive line coach Greg Adkins. GamecockCentral.com reported on Friday that Adkins was a portal target to watch for South Carolina football upon the news of the senior’s plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal.
The younger Adkins was third on the ETSU team last season with 33 catches for 357 yards and a touchdown.
But where Adkins excels — not surprising as the son of an SEC offensive line coach — is in the blocking aspects of playing the position.
A standout at Bearden High School in Knoxville, Tennessee, Adkins originally played offensive tackle before shifting to tight end when he arrived at ETSU.
“We call him ‘Nasty Nate’ for a reason,” ETSU center Joe Schreiber said via the Johnson City Press. “He’s a fun guy to play with. When you watch the practice film every day, he comes in and gives incredible effort every day. The plays he’s able to make happen for a reason. His discipline and his work ethic is probably better than anybody else’s on this team.”
South Carolina football has another transfer tight end due to arrive this summer in former Oklahoma standout Austin Stogner. After the departure of Nick Muse and because of how the offensive staff will move around the versatile Jaheim Bell, there’s a need for more depth at the tight end position. Among other scholarship players, Traevon Kenion had his most productive season as a Gamecock in 2021. Converted wide receiver Chad Terrell moved over to play the position this spring.
During the 2020 season at East Tennessee State, Adkins picked up numerous honors including being named to the SoCon Honor Roll, SoCon All-Academic Team. He was also awarded the Commissioner’s Medal, nabbed Coaches First Team All-So-Con status, and was an ADA Academic All-Star at the FCS level. Adkins was also named to the SoCon Honor Roll during his freshman (2018) and sophomore (2019) seasons during his previous stop.
In high school, Adkins played both baseball and football, batting .354 for his career. On the gridiron, he was a three-time all-conference selection, having registered 76 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and six sacks on defense as a senior.
