South Carolina adds former Sun Belt DL to impressive transfer portal class
By Paul Harvey
Published:
South Carolina is reloading the roster after a breakout 9-win season for Shane Beamer in 2024. On Tuesday, the Gamecocks added another piece for the roster entering 2025 with a defensive lineman out of the Sun Belt.
That player is Troy Pikes, a 6-foot-3 and 290-pound defensive lineman from Georgia Southern. A multisport athlete in high school, Pikes appeared in all 13 games for the Eagles this season. He posted 13 total tackles and a tackle for loss before entering the transfer portal during the spring window.
Now, he’s heading to South Carolina as a potential key piece for the defense in the interior.
Pikes is the 16th transfer commitment for the Gamecocks so far this cycle for a group that ranks as the 15th transfer class in the country, according to 247 Sports. The defense has been a key area of focus for Beamer’s staff, with 9 defenders in that transfer class.
Within that defensive group, the trenches particularly stand out with a total of 6 defensive linemen and edge prospects included. Pikes is the 4th specific DL listed to pledge to the Gamecocks.
South Carolina is coming off its first 9-win season since 2017 and the first under Beamer. With some key pieces back on offense, South Carolina should be poised to compete at a high level again this fall.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
