Another departure pushes Gamecocks to an even 10 transfers

Did you hear the one about the South Carolina football player who decided to transfer? Sure you have. Over and over and over again you’ve heard it for the past two months, as a matter of fact.

Citing a source with knowledge of the situation, Josh Kendall of The State is reporting that Blake McClain has decided to transfer out of the Gamecocks football program. The defensive lineman’s departure comes on the heels of linebacker Marcquis Roberts’ decision to leave, which came on the heels of eight other transfers: wide receivers Shaq Roland (HERE, landing HERE) and K.J. Brent (HERE), fullback Gerald Turner, tight end Drew Owens, linebacker Kaiwan Lewis (HERE), and defensive linemen Mason Harris, Na’Ty Rodgers and Deon Green.

Add it up, that’s 10 players who have left the Gamecocks since the end of the 2014 regular season. What it means is that Steve Spurrier will field a very young, raw and inexperienced squad in 2015, as Kendall points out:

That large number of exits, which is expected to grow before fall practice begins, combined with the 31 newcomers set to join the team before next season means at least 36 percent of the Gamecocks scholarship roster will be first-year players. Including players who redshirted last season, 40 of the 85 players on the team will have never played a snap for South Carolina.

Getting back to McClain, his loss wouldn’t be considered a significant one.

McClain was a three-star member of USC’s 2014 recruiting class, rated as the No. 19 strongside defensive end in the country. He did not play at all as a true freshman.

(Photo credit: Rivals.com)