South Carolina tight end no longer on team, will enter transfer portal

South Carolina tight end Michael Smith will redshirt and enter the transfer portal, he told On3’s Pete Nakos.

GamecockCentral has confirmed the news and that Smith is no longer on the team.

The sophomore from Savannah, Ga. has played in four games this season, making two catches for 20 yards on the year.

Smith caught 10 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown as a true freshman last season. While he didn’t have a massive impact, he saw action in 12 of 13 games, making seven starts, and was considered a high upside player with a bright future.

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This season, Smith has shared time at the tight end position with Brady Hunt, Jordan Dingle, and Maurice Brown II. He missed the spring while rehabbing a shoulder injury.

Smith also missed the Missouri game with an unspecified injury.

Because he has only played in four games, the 6-foot-6, 248-pounder will redshirt this year and be considered a redshirt sophomore in 2026, giving him three years of eligibility left.

A former four-star prospect at Savannah (Ga.) Calvary Day School, Smith originally chose the Gamecocks over Tennessee, Auburn, and Arkansas, among offers from many others.

Smith was ranked the No. 139 overall prospect and No. 9 tight end in the 2024 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking.

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