Another day, another South Carolina Gamecock who has decided to take his leave of Steve Spurrier‘s football program.
Citing a source with knowledge of the situation, The State newspaper reported Tuesday that Marcquis Roberts will not be back with the team and is expected to transfer. A school spokesperson subsequently confirmed to the Charleston Post & Courier that the linebacker is no longer with the program.
It had previously been reported that Roberts would miss spring practice due to a torn labrum.
Injuries, in fact, have been the hallmark of Roberts’ time with the Gamecocks. After coming to Columbia as a three-star member of USC’s 2011 recruiting class, he did not play as a true freshman due to a shoulder injury incurred during his high school playing days in Georgia. He then missed the following season with a torn ACL.
Following successful rehab, he returned to start nine games in 2013 and five in 2014.
If Roberts lands at another FBS school, he will likely have to sit out the 2015 season, leaving him with one year of eligibility remaining. If he were to drop down to the FCS level, he would have two years remaining.
Roberts becomes the eighth Gamecock with eligibility left to leave the program since the end of the 2014 regular season, joining wide receivers Shaq Roland (HERE, landing HERE) and K.J. Brent (HERE), fullback Gerald Turner, linebacker Kaiwan Lewis (HERE), defensive end Mason Harris, and defensive tackles Na’Ty Rodgers and Deon Green.
USC did pick up a transfer in the form of former starting Wake Forest offensive lineman Cory Helms.
As The State points out, all of this movement, including the additions via National Signing Day, currently leaves the Gamecocks at the NCAA-mandated max of 85 scholarship players on the roster. Funny how these things always seem to work themselves out.