South Carolina’s depth at linebacker may soon be taking a hit as one of the team’s young defenders is reportedly exploring his options elsewhere.

According to The Big Spur/247Sports, freshman linebacker Derek Boykins has entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal. Boykins has only appeared in one game this season, the Charleston Southern game, where he made three tackles in the contest.

It should be noted that entering the NCAA transfer portal does not guarantee a prospect will leave his current program but it is the first step to doing so.

A native of Concord, North Carolina, Boykins was rated as a three-star signee in the program’s 2019 recruiting cycle. The former Central Cabarrus High School standout signed with the Gamecocks over scholarship offers from Clemson, Tennessee, Ole Miss, North Carolina, West Virginia and Louisville.

The Gamecocks signed only two linebackers in the 2019 recruiting cycle and Boykins was the highest-rated player signed by Will Muschamp’s program at the position.