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South Carolina edge rusher Desmond Umeozulu is headed to Alabama. Head football coach Shane Beamer is demanding his program be compensated for the transfer.
The defensive end had already agreed to terms with the Gamecocks. He broke contract to enter the portal and join the Crimson Tide.
Umeozulu announced intentions to leave South Carolina on January 16th, the final day of the open transfer portal window. Two days later, he committed to Alabama.
That news came as a bit of a shock to the coaching staff. Umeozulu had reportedly signed an NIL deal to return for the 2026 season.
Now, the Gamecocks believe they are owed a buyout.
Who is Desmond Umeozulu?
The pass rusher signed with South Carolina as a four-star prospect from the state of Maryland. A Top 150 recruit, he was expected to make in impact in Columbia.
Through three seasons, it didn’t quite unfold as planned. Umeozulu was the third option at defensive end this past season behind Bryan Thomas and Dylan Stewart.
As a freshman, he appeared in 12 games while recording nine tackles. In his sophomore campaign, he tallied two tackles and a sack.
His role increased as a junior when he racked up 19 tackles from his edge position. He was intending to continue that upward trajectory in his final season of eligibility.
As often happens with the transfer portal, though, outlooks can quickly change. A day before Umeozulu’s exit, South Carolina landed a commitment from four-star edge player Caleb Herring.
Herring has similar numbers across three seasons of play, but his addition further crowded the position room. The Gamecocks return five players from last year and will add four more in recruiting.
Desmond Umeozulu might’ve seen the writing on the wall. He was offered a role at Alabama which potentially comes with an uptick playing time. So, he took it.
South Carolina demands compensation.
The defensive end had already signed on to return to Columbia. His transfer decision broke that agreement. The Gamecocks now seek a buyout.
Per a university source, South Carolina is pursuing a six-figure buyout that was outlined in Umeozulu’s contract. The buyout can be paid by either Umeozulu or Alabama.
-Jordan Kaye / The State Newspaper
Specifics of the contract terms were not provided. Those close to the program suggest that the payment requested is at least $100,000.
This is not something new to college football in the age of NIL and the transfer portal. This offseason, we’ve seen LSU pay more than $500,000 to swipe Princewill Umamielen from Ole Miss.
At Georgia, a $390,000 payment is being demanded for Damon Wilson’s transfer to Missouri.
Meanwhile, Duke is seeking potential compensation after Darian Mensah announced his intention to leave after signing a two-year deal.
South Carolina wants Alabama to pay for swiping Desmond Umeozulu. It will be interesting to see if their demands are met.