LIVE REPORT: BAM MARTIN-SCOTT’S FUTURE HANGS IN THE BALANCE
The Cheez-It Citrus Bowl is set to mark what could be the final college football appearance for Bam Martin-Scott, South Carolina’s sixth-year linebacker. But, as it turns out, his future on the field isn’t set in stone.
Martin-Scott, who began his college journey at Dodge City Community College in 2019, will suit up for Tuesday’s bowl game with uncertainty looming: will this be his last game for the Gamecocks, or could he return for the 2025 season?
The Pavia Ruling and NCAA Waiver
This uncertainty stems from a recent court decision in favor of Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt’s quarterback, who argued that his time at junior college shouldn’t count toward his NCAA eligibility. The court agreed, prompting the NCAA to establish a waiver for athletes impacted by similar circumstances.
However, there’s a catch. The waiver applies only to athletes who would have used their final year of eligibility during the 2024-25 season (like Martin-Scott) and are still within their five-year eligibility clock.
Here’s where the challenge lies for Martin-Scott: unlike Pavia, who began playing college football in 2020, Martin-Scott started in 2019, meaning his eligibility clock has already expired.
Head coach Shane Beamer acknowledged the complexity of the situation:
“As soon as (the Pavia ruling) happened, I was in communication with (Martin-Scott), (defensive coordinator Clayton White) was, all of us were,” Beamer said. “We’ll see what happens and hopefully the NCAA will do the right thing.”
Appealing for Another Year
Martin-Scott has begun the process of filing an appeal with the NCAA to extend his eligibility. Speaking after a Citrus Bowl practice on Friday, he made it clear he’s eager to return.
“I love this program. I like the trajectory it’s going on,” Martin-Scott said. “I would love to come back.”
South Carolina would welcome him back with open arms. Coming off a standout season with 65 tackles (third on the team) and nine tackles for loss (also third), his experience and production would be invaluable to a defense set to lose over half of its starters. Among the departures are Debo Williams and Demetrius Knight, the team’s most-used linebackers.
Impact on the Gamecocks
Martin-Scott was a key contributor in 2024, appearing in all 12 games and logging 446 snaps, ranking 11th among USC defenders. If granted eligibility, he’d likely step into a larger role as a starter in 2025, anchoring a defense in transition.
For now, his future remains uncertain. The Gamecocks are preparing for the Citrus Bowl, but all eyes will also be on the NCAA as they decide whether Martin-Scott will get another chance to lead the team.
Stay tuned—this is a story with major implications for South Carolina’s defense in the year ahead.
