Defensive back to transfer from South Carolina

South Carolina redshirt sophomore defensive back Keenan Nelson Jr. will enter the NCAA transfer portal, he announced on Friday.

Over the past couple of seasons in Columbia, Nelson Jr. has played in a total of 15 games, starting four. He’s seen time at the safety and nickel positions in the secondary as well as on special teams. He will have three seasons of eligibility remaining at the college level.

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“I would like to thank God for allowing me to play the game I love and giving me the ability to play this game,” Nelson said on his social media account on Friday morning. “I would like thank Coach Beamer, Coach Gray, and the whole South Carolina coaching staff for taking me in and allowing me to play the game at a high level, I’ve learned a lot these last two years.”

During the 2023 season, he started three games, playing in 11 of 12 contests. A CSC Academic All-District Team selection, Nelson Jr. tallied nine tackles, including a tackle for loss. He blocked a punt against Vanderbilt that he returned 18 yards for a touchdown.

As a prospect, Nelson Jr. was rated by the On3 Industry Ranking – a weighted average of all four major recruiting services – as the number 323 prospect in the country. He was additionally ranked by the metric as the 10th-best prospect in the state of Pennsylvania and the 33rd-best safety in the country.

He chose South Carolina out of St. Joseph’s in Philadelphia over scholarship offers from Penn State, Notre Dame, and others.

Nelson Jr. also shouted out the South Carolina fan base on his farewell post.

“I would like to thank Gamecock Nation for always showing love and supporting me even before I stepped on campus.”

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