South Carolina football lands defensive end transfer from ACC program
Kyle Kennard must have loved Columbia.
The Georgia Tech defensive end, according to The Big Spur, did a one-day visit to South Carolina on Thursday and he committed to the Gamecocks on Friday.
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How impressive is this get for coach Shane Beamer and his staff? Last weekend, Kennard took a visit to Florida State — a school that has proved over and over how it can elevate kids from the transfer portal — and stood in coach Mike Norvell’s office holding the ACC Championship trophy. And he still committed to South Carolina.
This news comes just two days after Pitt transfer DT Deandre Jules committed to the Gamecocks even after taking a visit to Florida.
One by one, Beamer and the Gamecocks are outdueling The Sunshine State’s top schools on the recruiting trail.
Kennard, a 6-foot-5, 238-pound edge from Atlanta, should have a chance to start right from the jump. As a junior this year at Georgia Tech, Kennard started in just half the Yellow Jackets’ games but still made 54 tackles, including 11 TFLs and a half-dozen sacks.
Kennard will have one year of eligibility remaining.
He was ranked as a Top-60 player in the transfer portal by 247 Sports and, outside of Arkansas transfer RB Rocket Sanders, is the highest-ranked transfer the Gamecocks have pulled in thus far.
Kennard finished his high school career in 2019 and arrived at Georgia Tech as a three-star prospect that was introduced to college football during the bizarre COVID season. Still, he contributed as a true freshman and started the Yellow Jackets’ final two games.
Over the past three seasons at Georgia Tech, Kennard has played in every game and steadily increased his numbers in each campaign. Fifteen tackles as a sophomore jumped to 36 which vaulted to 54.
And his length will be a welcome addition for a South Carolina squad that has brought in a pair of defensive tackles (Jules and JUCO transfer Jerome Simmons) but had yet to add an edge.
Kennard might also fill the gap left by edge Jordan Strachan, who graduated after starting nine games at edge for the Gamecocks in 2023.
With five-star edge Dylan Stewart arriving to Columbia next year, perhaps Kennard is the perfect transition guy for the Gamecocks to ensure they have depth and experience while Stewart gets acclimated to college football.
