COLUMBIA, S.C. — A key component of the South Carolina defense is leaving the program.
Stone Blanton, who started all 12 games in 2023 at middle linebacker, announced on social media he intends to enter the NCAA transfer portal.
Blanton came to Columbia after flipping his pledge from Mississippi State to South Carolina. That flip was made headlines because it came one day prior to the start of the early signing period in December of 2021.
He was set to play football and baseball at Mississippi State, but focused on football only during his two years at USC.
As a freshman in 2022. Blanton played in 12 of the 13 contests, primarily on special teams. He recorded seven tackles with one TFL.
This past season, Blanton manned the middle linebacker position and started all 12 games. He finished fifth on the team with 52 tackles with one TFL and a forced fumble. He made plenty of highlight reels with his pick 6 which came in the fourth quarter of the Jacksonville State game.
Blanton is a native of Jackson, Mississippi and prepped at Madison-Ridgeland Academy. He will have two years of eligibility remaining at his next stop.