We're less than three weeks away from SEC Media Days in Dallas. With the offseason slowly but surely winding down, there’s still enough time to talk about the acquisitions and departures Missouri's 2024 (and 2025) conference opponents have made.
Next up is South Carolina, which is Missouri's sixth conference opponent. The two teams will match up in Week 12 on Nov. 16.
Last season's record: 5-7
Key departures: WR Xavier Legette, QB Spencer Rattler, DB Marcellas Dial, C Nick Gargiulo, WR Antwane Wells Jr., LB Grayson Howard, RB Mario Anderson, LB Stone Blanton
Key additions: RB Raheim "Rocket" Sanders, LB Bangally Kamarra, WR Ahmari Huggins-Bruce, EDGE Kyle Kennard, WR Jared Brown, QB Robby Ashford, RB Oscar Adaway III
Key departures
South Carolina was ineligible for the postseason last season for the first time since 2020, and they lost four players to the NFL. So Shane Beamer and Co. will have to go without several star players this fall.
Legette was drafted 32nd overall by the Carolina Panthers. His former signal-caller, Rattler, was drafted to NFC South division foe the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round.
Dial was picked in the sixth round by the New England Patriots while Gargiulo was the penultimate player selected in the draft at No. 256 by the Denver Broncos.
Wells only played three games and had three receptions for 37 yards last season. However, in 2022, he played 13 games and recorded 68 receptions for 928 yards and six touchdowns. He is the only outgoing Gamecock ranked as a four-star transfer or higher in the Rivals transfer tracker. The 38th overall transfer joined Ole Miss this offseason.
Howard, the 185th overall transfer, had 19 tackles, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble in 11 games last year. He transferred to Florida.
Anderson led the Gamecocks in rushing with 707 yards and three touchdowns on 143 carries (4.9 yards per carry) in 12 games a year ago. He also had 22 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown. The 279th overall transfer went to Memphis.
Blanton, the 304th overall transfer, racked up 52 tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack, three pass deflections, a forced fumble and an interception returned for an 88-yard touchdown. He transferred to Mississippi State.
Key additions
South Carolina got one of the best running backs in the nation (when healthy) in Sanders from Arkansas. He only recorded 209 yards and two touchdowns on 62 attempts in six games in 2023. The year prior, he recorded 1,443 yards and 10 touchdowns on 222 carries (6.5 yards per carry). Sanders is the 91st overall transfer.
Kamarra, the 170th overall transfer, had 55 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, a pass deflection, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 10 games last season for Pittsburgh.
Huggins-Bruce recorded 20 receptions for 312 yards and four touchdowns in 2023 for Louisville. He is ranked as the 281st overall transfer.
Kennard, the 294th overall transfer, tied for the team lead in tackles for loss with 11 to go with 54 tackles, six sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception.
Brown, was Coastal Carolina's second-leading wide receiver with 58 receptions for 740 yards and four touchdowns. He also had 15 rushes for 252 yards and a touchdown. Brown is ranked as the 350th overall transfer.
Ashford, the 550th overall transfer, started 12 games in 2022 for Auburn, but in 2023, he completed just 14-of-27 passes for 145 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in 10 games. He also rushed for 46 carries for 217 yards and five touchdowns.
Adaway was North Texas' second-leading rusher with 738 yards and six touchdowns on 123 carries (six yards per carry) in 12 games last year. He is the 601st overall transfer.
Overall, the Gamecocks lost a lot of talent to the draft and the portal but they were able to recoup some talent with their additions. However, they may have to rely a little more on their 24th-ranked recruiting class.
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