Looks Like Jeffcoat To Gamecocks Is Not Going To Happen
SPORTSTALK / January 17, 2023
Missouri standout defensive end Trajan Jeffcoat wanted to finish his career close to his Irmo home, and with Jordan Burch transferring to Oregon, USC had an immediate opening and need for a defensive end/pass rusher. The two sides moved quickly to make it happen, and over the last week all indications were Jeffcoat would be in school this week.Then, something in the transfer process broke down, and as of Monday night it appears Jeffcoat to USC is DOA.
JC Shurburtt of TheBigSpur, who has been out front on this story from the start, reported Monday night the issue preventing his enrollment was not academic related. A source we talked with Monday night confirmed the same, adding that as late as Sunday night Jeffcoat was expecting to join the program without a hitch.
According to our source, coming home to play a final season in the SEC was big for Jeffcoat, and per our source, the NIL deal from USC was less than he would have gotten had he stayed at Missouri. The source, like other sources media have contacted, did not know the reason why the transfer to USC was blocked.
In 2019 at Missouri, after playing six games as a freshman in 2018, Jeffcoat missed the first five games with an elbow injury, then left the team for an undisclosed reason. He was given a redshirt for the season, returned for the 2020 season and made All-SEC. He also played full seasons with the Tigers in 2021 and 2022.
Tuesday is the last day for a USC student to be in class for grades to count in the spring semester.
Not being able to add Jeffcoat to the roster would be a major blow for Shane Beamer and defensive coordinator Clayton White. Thinking they had Jeffcoat, it’s possible they passed on other defensive ends of his quality. And now, finding one in the portal with an All-SEC type of background won’t be easy.
According to the On3 transfer portal site, some of the edge rushers still available are Rick D’Abreu (6-2 257) of East Carolina, Eyobi Okie (6-5 245) of Michigan, who has already transferred four times, and Quin Williams (6-2 240) of Georgia Southern.
