South Carolina has filled its two starting guard positions for this season through the NCAA transfer portal. Torricelli Simpkins and Kamaar Bell, both one-year transfers, will play their only season with the Gamecocks, leaving offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley with the task of replacing them. He could either rely on younger high school recruits or go back to the portal for more experienced players.
Teasley has opted for the latter approach.
The Gamecocks first added Wake Forest transfer guard Nick Sharpe, and now they’ve secured Western Kentucky transfer guard Rodney Newsom (6-3, 303). Newsom announced his commitment on Tuesday night after visiting the campus over the weekend, and he didn’t take any other official visits after receiving the offer from Teasley.
- Rodney Newsom
Newsom’s journey began at Memphis, where he redshirted in 2021 and didn’t play in 2022. He then transferred to Itawamba JC in Mississippi for the 2023 season before joining Western Kentucky.
In 2023, he played in all 14 games and started the final 11, including the Boca Raton Bowl. He was listed as a redshirt sophomore at Western Kentucky and should have two years of eligibility remaining with the Gamecocks.
With Newsom’s commitment, South Carolina now has four offensive linemen in its 2025 class, which includes 32 total newcomers.
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