Spring transfer portal window opens Wednesday. How USC’s coaches approach it
If it was not clear before, this spring proved that nothing in college football is set in stone, that no rosters are ever secure.
Earlier this week, amid a reported contract dispute, Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava entered the transfer portal. It’s not a foreign scenario, but one that has long been isolated to pro sports: Athlete wants more money, team says no, athlete leaves.
But, like most college football players — including almost all playing for South Carolina — Iamaleava was under contract with Tennessee’s NIL collective. And yet, he’s still going to enter the portal.
Which has to strike a bit of fear into every other college football coach, wondering if the same thing could happen with someone on their team. And, in some ways, it’s akin to losing someone to a season-ending injury: Your whole plan can change on a dime.
“That’s our job as coaches, too,” said USC offensive coordinator Mike Shula. “You have to coach the guys who are in there and then coach the guys who could have to step in at a moments notice for the rest of the year.”
The spring transfer portal window officially opens Wednesday and closes on Friday, April 25. Players do not have to make their decision by April 25, but simply submit their name into the portal by then.
Which means all college football players have under two weeks to try and decide their future. And it should be noted that a majority of those who decide to transfer do not do so because of a contract dispute, like Iamaleava, but to get more playing time.
Those are the healthy transfers within college football, and South Carolina has already had a pair.
Over a week ago, linebacker Wendell Gregory announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal. On Monday, cornerback Emory Floyd did the same. Both likely went in search of a better chance to play.
The timing was odd considering the Gamecocks are still going through spring practice and don’t play their Garnet & Black Spring Game until Friday night.
Which raises the question: Are coaches having conversations with all their players to gauge if they have any intention on hitting the portal?
“To be honest with you, those conversations are very minimal,” said defensive coordinator Clayton White. “They all have their agents and stuff like that and the decision is already made.
White continued: “If they come to you and say that’s what they’re thinking, it’s pretty much already done. So you wish those guys well and keep it moving, to be honest with you.”
As for South Carolina targeting players in the portal to bring to Columbia, much of that is handled by the Gamecocks’ personnel department, headed by Darren Uscher.
So far USC has added just one player from the portal this spring: edge rusher Demon Clowney, the cousin of star Jadeveon Clowney who was able to sign already because he’s a graduate.
But be sure: There will be more additions.
“It’s more of something that has to be on the forefront of our minds than ever before,” Shula said. “But I think we have people who are taking the point on that and we’re just kind of follow their lead.”
This story was originally published April 15, 2025 at 8:00 AM with the headline "Spring transfer portal window opens Wednesday. How USC’s coaches approach it."
