The South Carolina roster story
In 2016, 42 of 118 roster spots were filled by South Carolina players not previously rostered elsewhere in the data. On the 2026 roster, 37 of 110 fit the same definition. The number of players previously rostered elsewhere changed from 2 to 28.
The median hometown distance moved from 185 mi in 2016 to 191 mi on the 2026 roster.
Before and during the portal era
2016–18 compared with 2021–25
- In-state, not rostered elsewhere
- Previously rostered elsewhere
| Measure | 2016–18 | 2021–25 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state, not rostered elsewhere | 39.4% | 39.9% | |
| Previously rostered elsewhere | 2.7% | 14.5% |
The 2026 roster
- 321 miAverage hometown distanceAverage hometown distance among 103 located players.
- 36.4%In-state36.4% of players with a known home state are from South Carolina.
- 34.0%Backyard34.0% of players with a located hometown grew up within 100 miles of campus.
- 25.5%Previously rostered elsewhere25.5% of the roster appeared on another college roster in an earlier season.
Where South Carolina ranks
Homecoming Radius over time
The median hometown-to-campus distance, by season. The dotted line is the FBS median.
Roster composition over time
Where the in-state lens draws the line: home-state players with and without an earlier college roster, out-of-state players with and without one, and players with unknown geography. This chart begins where stable athlete IDs make transfer detection possible; the radius chart above carries the official-archive geography farther back.
Where do South Carolina's players come from?
| Season | Roster | In-state | Rostered elsewhere | Radius |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 110 | 36.4% | 25.5% | 191 mi |
| 2025 | 114 | 40.4% | 21.9% | 170 mi |
| 2024 | 120 | 41.7% | 20.0% | 175 mi |
| 2023 | 116 | 42.2% | 12.9% | 182 mi |
| 2022 | 119 | 42.9% | 10.9% | 155 mi |
| 2021 | 107 | 41.5% | 6.5% | 144 mi |
| 2020 | 121 | 45.5% | 4.1% | 124 mi |
| 2019 | 119 | 47.1% | 5.9% | 122 mi |
| 2018 | 108 | 44.3% | 4.6% | 154 mi |
| 2017 | 105 | 43.8% | 1.9% | 165 mi |
| 2016 | 118 | 36.4% | 1.7% | 185 mi |
| 2015 | 111 | 36.4% | 1.8% | 182 mi |
| 2014 | 109 | 39.4% | 0.0% | 176 mi |
| 2013 | 110 | 41.8% | 0.0% | 169 mi |
| 2012 | 115 | 47.0% | 0.0% | 161 mi |
| 2011 | 113 | 42.5% | 0.0% | 142 mi |
| 2010 | 106 | 44.3% | 0.0% | 116 mi |
| 2009 | 97 | 45.4% | 0.0% | 123 mi |
In-state shares use players with a known home state. Radius uses located hometowns.
Where the roster grew up
Located hometowns on the 2026 roster, with campus marked and the Homecoming Radius circled.
Homecoming Radius: 191 mi