South Carolina and DJ Black are set for a full-circle reunion as the Gamecocks continue to reshape their roster through the transfer portal. On Monday, 247Sports reported that South Carolina has signed UCF transfer wide receiver DJ Black, bringing back a familiar face who originally began his collegiate career in Columbia.
Black first joined South Carolina as a walk-on in 2022, but his time with the program was brief and largely behind the scenes. While he did not appear in any games during his lone season with the Gamecocks, he remained active athletically by competing with South Carolina’s indoor track team in the spring. Seeking a clearer path to playing time, Black transferred out, a move that ultimately set the stage for his development as a productive collegiate receiver.
After leaving South Carolina, Black transferred to Division II Limestone, where he reunited with Mike Furrey, now the Gamecocks’ wide receivers coach. Under Furrey’s guidance, Black flourished, tallying nearly 1,200 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns over two seasons. His success at Limestone earned him another opportunity at the FBS level, leading to a transfer to UCF.
In the 2025 season with the Golden Knights, Black emerged as a reliable contributor. As a redshirt junior, he started 11 games, finishing the year with 22 receptions for 273 yards and two touchdowns. Despite a modest stat line, his production ranked near the top of UCF’s receiving corps, as only three receivers recorded more catches and receiving yards than Black. His size and physicality consistently made him a dependable option within the offense.
Black’s journey back to South Carolina is particularly meaningful given his roots in the state. An Inman native, he was a standout at Chapman High School, where he caught 79 passes for 1,445 yards and 19 touchdowns in a single season. During that run, Black etched his name into South Carolina high school football history by breaking Deebo Samuel’s state record for receiving yards in a game, hauling in 270 yards in one contest.
Now standing at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, Black returns to the Gamecocks as a far more experienced and polished receiver than when he first arrived as a walk-on. He will enter the program with two seasons of eligibility remaining, giving South Carolina both immediate depth and long-term flexibility in its wide receiver room.
Black becomes the 24th transfer addition for South Carolina this offseason, highlighting the program’s aggressive approach to roster construction. His commitment also continues a growing pipeline from UCF to Columbia. He is the third Golden Knight to transfer to South Carolina this offseason, joining offensive lineman Carter Miller and tight end Max Drag, a Chapin alum who committed just a day earlier.
For the Gamecocks, Black’s return represents more than just another portal pickup. It is a reunion years in the making, blending local ties, familiarity with the coaching staff, and proven production at multiple levels of college football. As South Carolina looks to bolster its passing game and add experienced targets to the offense, DJ Black’s winding journey has brought him back to where it all started — this time with a real opportunity to make an impact on the field.
