South Carolina football is wrapping up its spring practice period, with the annual Garnet and Black Game set for April 18 at 7:00 p.m. EST at Williams-Brice Stadium. Head coach Shane Beamer is using this time to not only prep for the spring finale but also lay the groundwork for the upcoming season.
Spring practices serve multiple purposes — helping newcomers adapt to the team’s system, giving current players a shot to climb the depth chart, and offering an opportunity for athletes to evaluate their future with the program, including whether to enter the transfer portal.
So far, South Carolina has managed to avoid major losses through the portal. Initially, only edge rusher Wendell Gregory had opted to transfer. However, that changed with the news that cornerback Emory Floyd is also entering the portal, as reported by @Hayesfawcett3.
Floyd, a four-star recruit in the Class of 2022, never quite found his footing with the Gamecocks. In his first year, he appeared in just two games (vs. Georgia State and Georgia) without recording any stats, although he did earn SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll honors while redshirting.
His second season saw slightly more action — he played in three games (vs. Furman, Mississippi State, and Kentucky), registering two tackles and one pass breakup. A hamstring injury derailed his 2024 campaign, limiting him to two games (vs. Katron and Ole Miss), again without recording stats.
In addition to football, Floyd also competed on the Gamecocks’ track and field team, running the 60m indoors and the 100m and 200m outdoors.
With Floyd’s departure, South Carolina’s safety room becomes a bit thinner, though the secondary remains strong, bolstered by a crop of young, talented returners for the upcoming season.
