COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Gamecocks have officially made their first move in the spring transfer portal window, and it’s a name that carries weight in Columbia.
According to 247 Sports’ Matt Zenitz, the Gamecocks are set to sign Demon Clowney, a talented edge rusher — and the cousin of former South Carolina legend Jadeveon Clowney.
This marks yet another stop in what has been a whirlwind college career for Demon Clowney. He began his journey at Ole Miss in 2020, made the move to Charlotte in 2023, had a brief stint at Louisville in December, and is now headed to his fourth program, bringing the Clowney name full circle back to the state of South Carolina — where it once dominated headlines.
But unlike his cousin Jadeveon, Demon didn’t play high school football in the Palmetto State. He developed as a standout pass rusher at Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore, a program so prominent that HBO produced a documentary about it titled “The Cost of Winning.”
A four-star recruit out of high school, Clowney entered the college scene with high expectations. Over the span of five seasons, he’s totaled 69 tackles and 6.5 sacks, with the majority of that production coming during his time at Charlotte.
And that connection to Charlotte could bode well for South Carolina — the Gamecocks struck gold from the same program last year when they brought in Demetrius Knight, who emerged as one of the team’s top tacklers and vocal leaders on defense.
With the addition of Clowney, head coach Shane Beamer is looking to fill key gaps on the defensive line.
“We need to get our defensive tackle position solidified,” Beamer said earlier this week. “We need to get that EDGE position solidified.”
Now, with Demon Clowney joining the fold, the Gamecocks are not just adding depth — they’re adding legacy, experience, and the potential for impact in a unit seeking playmakers.
