Outgoing South Carolina transfer ranked in top 10 of early transfer portal rankings

Earlier this season, tight end Michael Smith left the South Carolina football program with the intention of redshirting and transferring. He left the team following a smaller-than-expected role in the 2025 offense.

Combined between a true freshman year in 2024 and a shortened sophomore campaign, Smith logged 12 receptions, 126 yards, and one touchdown. That touchdown came in the clutch against Missouri during the 2024 season. He only had two catches for 20 yards in four games this fall.

From a recruiting perspective, Smith had been one of the Gamecocks’ highest-rated tight end signees of all time. He was a four-star prospect. Now, he will spend the 2026 campaign elsewhere as a redshirt sophomore.

According to early transfer portal rankings from On3, Smith is one of the top names who will be on the move. As things stand, he is the No. 6 overall transfer prospect and the No. 1 transfer tight end. Three of the players ahead of him have seen their teams undergo head coaching changes this fall. He is currently a three-star transfer portal prospect.

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No other Gamecock has publicly announced an intention to transfer, so there are no other South Carolina names on the On3 transfer portal rankings.

With Smith exiting Columbia, he is one of two scholarship tight ends sure to be absent from the 2026 roster. Jordan Dingle, who transferred in from Kentucky this offseason, is out of eligibility. Former transfer portal addition Brady Hunt has an avenue to a sixth year via a medical redshirt if he pursues it. Current junior Maurice Brown and current true freshman Mike Tyler can return, too.

In the class of 2026, South Carolina has one tight end committed. Rivals four-star Caden Ramsey pledged his services to the Gamecocks in September.

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