South Carolina football opens the new year with another tough hit to its roster, as offensive lineman Boaz Stanley has entered the NCAA transfer portal. Stanley, who arrived in Columbia in 2025 from Troy, was once expected to be a stabilizing force up front but will now look for his next opportunity elsewhere.
A redshirt junior from Bogart, Georgia, Stanley brought valuable experience and positional flexibility to the Gamecocks’ offensive line. After previous stops at Georgia Military College and Troy, he was considered one of the most game-ready additions on the roster. Head coach Shane Beamer even tabbed him as the projected starting center, and Stanley opened the 2025 season in that role, starting the first three games.
Injuries and shifting line combinations eventually pushed Stanley out of the starting spot, first behind Nolan Hay and later Rodney Newsom Jr. He briefly returned to the lineup against Oklahoma, but Hay’s return ahead of the Clemson game again altered the depth chart. Even so, Stanley remained an important rotational piece, offering experience and depth throughout the season.
His exit adds to a growing list of offensive line departures for South Carolina, a unit that struggled mightily in 2025 after surrendering 43 sacks, one of the worst totals in the FBS. Newly hired offensive line coach Randy Clements now faces mounting pressure to rebuild the unit through the transfer portal and recruiting as the program looks ahead to 2026.
Stanley’s decision is significant given his versatility, starting experience, and remaining eligibility, traits that should draw interest from multiple programs. At the same time, his departure highlights the uphill battle South Carolina faces in reshaping its roster and solidifying the offensive line moving forward.
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