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Wendell Gregory / USC Athletics

Earlier in the offseason, South Carolina EDGE Wendell Gregory announced he was hitting the transfer portal. Gregory has now announced his commitment to Oklahoma State.

The former Walton High School product was rated as a four-star and the 179th-best player in the country for the 2024 recruiting class, according to composite rankings.

Gregory was likely expecting an additional bump in playing time entering 2025. However, the Gamecocks signed Zavion Hardy out of the transfer portal at the EDGE position.

Here's what we had to say about Gregory coming out of high school.

Film Review

Wendell Gregory may be asked to be a stand-up rusher in the box, and I could also see a possible Jack role for him, where he can rush the passer or drop into coverage from an outside linebacker position. Watching his film, the first thing that stuck out to me was his lateral quickness. Gregory moves sideline-to-sideline exceptionally well.

Watching Gregory continuously be able to fight through the proverbial trash and finish a play is something a decent number of young players struggle with, but it will help him early on at the next level. On top of that, he can convert from run to pass defense or vice versa and identify a play rather quickly.

I like his first step, which is essential for edge rushers; while that's an aspect of his game that will need to develop more in college, it's better than most. He will also need to work on his pass-rushing arsenal, which will happen at this level.

Final Thoughts

Wendell Gregory is a solid pickup for the Gamecocks. His ability to absorb and fight off blocks with the awareness to fight through traffic will translate well, along with his instincts that can switch from run to pass. While his pass-rushing arsenal can improve, I don't see this being an issue; from playing wideout as a freshman to a top edge player, Gregory is a head-down and work type of player that, as Gregory stated, has the grit and physicality to do whatever is needed to improve his game. 

This article first appeared on South Carolina Gamecocks on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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