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South Carolina tight end Michael Smith is no longer a part of the football program. He intends to redshirt and enter the transfer portal.
The Gamecocks will not allow him to remain on the roster with hopes of a return in 2026. They’re choosing to drop the talented pass catcher altogether.
South Carolina TE Michael Smith redshirting + portaling is not something I had on my bingo card, say, a month ago. Assumed he’d be a leading pass-catcher this season + beyond.
— Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) October 7, 2025
Who is Michael Smith?
Smith signed with the Gamecocks as a four-star recruit in the 2024 class. The tight end was rated as a Top 100 player and the fifth-best player at his position.
He initially chose South Carolina over other football offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, and Texas. With that in mind, he was expected to make an immediate impact on the field.
That hasn’t quite happened, though he’s shown flashes in small stints.
As a freshman, he totaled 10 catches for 106 yards and a score while making seven starts. He’s been seldom used as a sophomore.
Despite competing for the TE1 role, he’s fallen down the depth chart behind Brady Hunt and Jordan Dingle. Smith has competed in four games this season. He can preserve his eligibility by sitting out the rest of the year.
The tight end intends to redshirt, meaning he no longer has a spot at South Carolina.
Shane Beamer has done this before.
Just last year, the Gamecocks parted ways with linebacker Bangally Kamara after a similar ask. He’d hoped to preserve his final season of eligibility despite having a notable role on the defense.
Kamara logged a season-high in snaps during a game vs. Ole Miss. He then immediately asked to be removed from the lineup.
Beamer opted to grant his wish, though with one caveat. He could no longer be a part of the football program.
“He came in my office and told me he was redshirting. I told him that’s not quite how this works. We can have a discussion about his role… We went back and forth a little bit [on his situation]… In the end I made the decision for him that it was probably best to move on.”
-Shane Beamer
His locker was quickly cleaned out, and he was no longer able to utilize the team facilities. It seems Michael Smith will receive a similar fate.
The pass catcher should receive interest from notable programs around the country despite his dip in usage. It could come with a hefty NIL deal, too.
His next opportunity will not come at South Carolina, though he likely would’ve been the starter as a junior with both Hunt and Dingle graduating.
That decision may or may not have been mutual. Based on Shane Beamer’s previous precedent, a return was never on the table.
Vandrevius Jacobs swiped Smith’s jersey number.
The fellow pass catcher wasted absolutely no time getting his hands on No. 4. Jacobs, the Gamecocks leading receiver, will make the change after previously wearing No. 19.
The wideout is in his first season with the program after transferring in from Florida State. He has been LaNorris Sellers’ favorite target with 18 catches and 323 yards.
His usage has ramped up in the last two games as he’s recorded back-to-back 100-yard contests. He’ll look to continue the success with a new look when the Gamecocks take on LSU in Baton Rouge.