The fallout from South Carolina baseball’s coaching transition continues to reshape the roster. Dawson Harman, the Gamecocks’ everyday third baseman in 2026, announced Friday afternoon via X that he is entering the NCAA Transfer Portal with one year of eligibility remaining — becoming the second Gamecock to depart, joining right-handed pitcher Josh Gunther.
Harman was direct and gracious in his announcement, citing the program’s recent coaching change as the driving factor behind his decision:
“After a lot of prayer and reflection, I’ve made one of the hardest decisions of my baseball career. With one year of eligibility remaining, and due to the recent coaching change, I have officially decided to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal to pursue a new opportunity and continue chasing my dreams.”
He also took a moment to thank South Carolina for “believing in me” — a parting message that speaks to the genuine difficulty of the decision rather than any bitterness toward the program.
A Season Interrupted
Harman’s one year in Columbia was defined as much by adversity as production. The Lithia, Florida native started 40 games as the Gamecocks’ primary third baseman, hitting .227 with 5 home runs and 21 RBI in 128 at-bats. The raw numbers, however, don’t tell the full story. Harman missed 13 consecutive games midseason after being diagnosed with mononucleosis — a debilitating illness that can cause extreme fatigue, fever, and swollen lymph nodes, and one that notoriously derails athletic performance long after the acute phase subsides. A fully healthy Harman over a full season may have told a considerably different statistical story.
The Résumé Behind the Man
What makes Harman’s portal entry particularly noteworthy for programs across the country is the pedigree he carries into his final collegiate season. Before arriving at South Carolina, Harman put together one of the most decorated junior college seasons in recent memory at the College of Central Florida in 2025 — slashing .370 with 24 home runs, 65 RBI, 20 doubles, and a staggering 1.336 OPS, earning him First Team Juco All-American honors, Florida Juco Player of the Year, and Citrus Conference Player of the Year recognition in the same breath. Those are generational JUCO numbers.
His path to that breakout ran through High Point University, where he showed early promise with 4 home runs, 15 RBI, and a .472 slugging percentage as a freshman in 2024, before the transfer to Central Florida unlocked a completely different offensive level.
He also continued producing in the summer circuit, hitting .347 with 3 triples, 2 home runs and 20 RBI for the Sanford River Rats in the Florida League in the summer of 2025 — confirming his JUCO explosion wasn’t a fluke.
What Comes Next
The transfer portal officially opens June 1 through June 30, but Harman’s early declaration will give interested programs a head start in building a relationship. For whichever program lands him, they’re getting a proven power hitter at a premium defensive position who has one final season to make his mark at the college level.
For South Carolina, Harman’s departure adds to a growing list of roster questions that the program’s incoming coaching staff will need to address quickly as they shape the 2027 Gamecocks roster. The window to replace proven infield depth is narrow — and the clock is ticking.
