Gamecocks land two today from the portal LB and OL
Jan. 08, 2023
Carolina land LB Jaron Willis (6-2 220) of Leesburg, GA from the portal. He first committed to Georgia Tech and then signed with Ole Miss for the 2022 class, but the Gamecocks cleaned him up on the transfer rebound.
Willis made an official visit to Carolina over the weekend and this time decided to make Columbia his home.
“I really hadn’t seen them in person, so I couldn’t judge them on how they are as a family and with their players. Now that I’ve seen that, it really made my decision easy,” Willis said. “I kind of wish I had had a chance to see it before when I was recruited, who knows, I could have been a Gamecock. But I’m ready to go.”
Willis played in one game this season for the Rebels, and that was against Central Arkansas in September and did not record any stats, so he will have a full four years of eligibility with the Gamecocks.
“I’m going to play more of a will linebacker role, but try to learn all the linebacker spots,” Willis said. “I’ll be physical, very physical, South Georgia mentality. Every time I see the ball, I go hit somebody and make them feel it. You’re going to see a lot of energy and hype, always hyped, just being myself.”
Willis was a safety in high school but has grown into a linebacker/edge rusher type of player. He’s the second linebacker for the class joining Grayson Howard.
Carolina is losing at least three starters off their offensive line, and Shane Beamer has reached into the NCAA Transfer Portal for more help. Sunday transfer OT Sidney Fugar (6-6 330) of Western Illinois announced he will be enrolling at Carolina this after taking an official visit over the weekend.
Fugar also visited Cincinnati prior to his Carolina visit, and he gave some consideration to Memphis. He and new USC offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley have known each other since Teasley recruited him out of high school for North Carolina Central. That relationship helped the Gamecocks land Fugar.
“The hospitality, the family environment, it was just all amazing,” Fugar said. “I felt that connection with Coach Teasley and talking to Coach Beamer. They told me right away I have the potential to be a starter here. They showed me all the different opportunities that they have and I could really be a good asset. That just all drew me in and made me happy and pushed me more to commit here. That’s all that I wanted, a good coaching staff that loved their players and invested in me.”
Fugar is the second transfer offensive lineman the Gamecocks have taken as part of their 2023 additions which now include 6 offensive linemen.
“I see myself becoming a starter and working hard to get my starting position,” Fugar said. “I plan to impact the program the best that I can and give it my all.”
Fugar entered the portal in early December. He’s also attracted offers from Murray State, Northern Arizona, Southern Illinois, Northwestern State, Troy, Hawaii, Eastern Kentucky, ODU and East Carolina. He said he will be back at USC around January 17th and will have three years of eligibility.
Fugar appeared in one game for the Leathernecks in 2021 and redshirted. He played in nine games this season and was named the team’s Offensive Lineman of the Year
Jan. 08, 2023
Gamecocks pick up Ole Miss transfer LB Jaron Willis
Carolina land LB Jaron Willis (6-2 220) of Leesburg, GA from the portal. He first committed to Georgia Tech and then signed with Ole Miss for the 2022 class, but the Gamecocks cleaned him up on the transfer rebound.Willis made an official visit to Carolina over the weekend and this time decided to make Columbia his home.
“I really hadn’t seen them in person, so I couldn’t judge them on how they are as a family and with their players. Now that I’ve seen that, it really made my decision easy,” Willis said. “I kind of wish I had had a chance to see it before when I was recruited, who knows, I could have been a Gamecock. But I’m ready to go.”
Willis played in one game this season for the Rebels, and that was against Central Arkansas in September and did not record any stats, so he will have a full four years of eligibility with the Gamecocks.
“I’m going to play more of a will linebacker role, but try to learn all the linebacker spots,” Willis said. “I’ll be physical, very physical, South Georgia mentality. Every time I see the ball, I go hit somebody and make them feel it. You’re going to see a lot of energy and hype, always hyped, just being myself.”
Willis was a safety in high school but has grown into a linebacker/edge rusher type of player. He’s the second linebacker for the class joining Grayson Howard.
Gamecocks beef up OL with commitment from transfer Sidney Fugar
Carolina is losing at least three starters off their offensive line, and Shane Beamer has reached into the NCAA Transfer Portal for more help. Sunday transfer OT Sidney Fugar (6-6 330) of Western Illinois announced he will be enrolling at Carolina this after taking an official visit over the weekend.Fugar also visited Cincinnati prior to his Carolina visit, and he gave some consideration to Memphis. He and new USC offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley have known each other since Teasley recruited him out of high school for North Carolina Central. That relationship helped the Gamecocks land Fugar.
“The hospitality, the family environment, it was just all amazing,” Fugar said. “I felt that connection with Coach Teasley and talking to Coach Beamer. They told me right away I have the potential to be a starter here. They showed me all the different opportunities that they have and I could really be a good asset. That just all drew me in and made me happy and pushed me more to commit here. That’s all that I wanted, a good coaching staff that loved their players and invested in me.”
Fugar is the second transfer offensive lineman the Gamecocks have taken as part of their 2023 additions which now include 6 offensive linemen.
“I see myself becoming a starter and working hard to get my starting position,” Fugar said. “I plan to impact the program the best that I can and give it my all.”
Fugar entered the portal in early December. He’s also attracted offers from Murray State, Northern Arizona, Southern Illinois, Northwestern State, Troy, Hawaii, Eastern Kentucky, ODU and East Carolina. He said he will be back at USC around January 17th and will have three years of eligibility.
Fugar appeared in one game for the Leathernecks in 2021 and redshirted. He played in nine games this season and was named the team’s Offensive Lineman of the Year
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