South Carolina to seek buyout for Alabama transfer Desmond Umeozulu | Reports

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Alabama football’s addition of former South Carolina defensive end Desmond Umeozulu has an added wrinkle.

According to a report from The State, the Gamecocks are pursuing a six-figure buyout from either Umeozulu or Alabama after the defensive end announced he would transfer to the Crimson Tide for his final season of collegiate eligibility.

Umeozulu reportedly signed a contract to play for South Carolina in 2026, but entered the transfer portal hours after the Gamecocks added Tennessee transfer defensive end Caleb Herring.

A former four-star edge out of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Umeozulu recorded 30 tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss and 1.5 sacks along with six quarterback hurries across three seasons for the Gamecocks.

Working as the primary backup to star pass rusher Dylan Stewart, Umeozulu played a career high 329 snaps for South Carolina in 2025, recording 19 tackles, two tackles-for-loss and a sack.

Umeozulu is one of five defensive linemen Alabama has added via the transfer portal in the 2026 offseason along with USC transfer Devan Thompkins, Oregon transfer Terrance Green, Washington transfer Caleb Smith and Mississippi State transfer Kedrick Bingley-Jones.

Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: South Carolina to seek buyout for Alabama transfer Desmond Umeozulu

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