Why transfer Nitro Tuggle could be big help for LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina in 2026
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South Carolina football may have added a key piece to help quarterback LaNorris Sellers during the 2026 season through the transfer portal.
Nitro Tuggle, Purdue’s second-leading receiver, is transferring to South Carolina, according to media reports on Jan. 9. Tuggle was at Georgia for the 2024 season.
Even though Nyck Harbor (618 receiving yards, 6 TDs) and Sellers’ brother Jayden Sellers (337 yards, 1 TD) are returning in 2026, coach Shane Beamer needs to add receivers after Vandrevius Jacobs (548 yards, 4 TDs) entered the portal.
The Gamecocks will have a new offensive coordinator in 2026 as Beamer hired Kendal Briles from TCU after Mike Shula was fired.
Tuggle, who is 6-1, 195 pounds, had 500 receiving yards on 34 receptions, averaging 14.7 yards per catch to go with four touchdowns in 2025 at Purdue.
Tuggle had three catches for 34 yards in eight games with Georgia in 2024.
South Carolina also has added 6-5 Jayden Gibson from Oklahoma, but he has been injured for the last two seasons.
What is Nitro Tuggle’s real name?
Nitro is short for NiTareon.
On “ESPN GameDay” on Aug. 30, host Rece Davis put up five names on the board and asked the set which name was not real: Nitro Tuggle, Memorable Factor, Indiana Jones, Cody Stufflebean or Turbo Richard.
Tuggle was the near-unanimous pick as the not real name.
Nitro Tuggle recruiting rankings
Tuggle was a four-star recruit, rated No. 123 nationally, third in Indiana and was the No. 24 wide receiver in the Class of 2024, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
Nitro Tuggle speeding charges with Georgia football
While at Georgia, Tuggle plead guilty to a speeding charge and a reckless driving charge was dismissed, the Athens Banner-Herald reported.
Contributing: Aaron Ferguson, IndyStar
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky@bylulukesin.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina football lands Nitro Tuggle of Purdue, per reports
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