Michael Smith, the former 4-star tight end, has officially been released by Syracuse and will return to South Carolina, ending a long transfer saga. Smith, who saw limited playing time and made no on-field contributions for the Orange, reportedly wanted nothing more than to return to his original program.
Smith originally enrolled at South Carolina in 2024, making an immediate impact as a freshman with seven starts, 10 receptions for 106 yards, and a touchdown. His sophomore season, however, saw reduced playing time, prompting him to enter the transfer portal while preserving his redshirt and keeping three years of eligibility remaining.
After briefly committing to Syracuse, Smith signed an NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) agreement with the program. Initially, Syracuse refused to release him from the contract, preventing a return to South Carolina. The situation caused uncertainty around the tight end’s next move.
With the formal release now granted, Smith will rejoin the Gamecocks’ roster, adding a familiar talent to South Carolina’s offense. The move comes as South Carolina looks to rebuild and strengthen its tight end group for the 2026 season.
Smith’s return underscores the challenges of transfer portal moves and NIL agreements while highlighting the importance of player choice in navigating their college football careers.
