COLUMBIA, SC - OCTOBER 22: Quarterback Brandon McIlwain #11 of the South Carolina Gamecocks breaks tackles against the Massachusetts Minutemen at Williams-Brice Stadium on October 22, 2016 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images)

Former starting SEC quarterback transferring after only one year

This is a bit of a bummer.

While South Carolina might have found its longterm starter in Jake Bentley —- who graduated high school a year early so he could join the Gamecocks —- but it looks like they've lost a crucial backup in Brandon McIlwain. The two-sport star had started three games for South Carolina early in the season before Bentley took over and played baseball, but now he will be taking his talents elsewhere.

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That leaves the Gamecocks with two scholarship QBs in Bentley and junior Michael Scarnecchia on the roster. Of course, there should be one or two more coming in with the next recruiting class, but that's all they got for now.

McIlwain finished the season appearing in eight games (with three starts) with 600 yards passing while completing 62 of 118 passes. He threw two touchdowns against one interception and also ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns. On the baseball diamond, he saw action in only one game this season, entering as a pinch runner. He went 1 for 10 last year with an RBI in eight games.

[h/t SEC Country]