Redshirt senior transfer Dayne Arnett joins South Carolina’s football team as one of the newest offensive linemen, bringing in a highly valued skillset and the ability to play multiple positions.
Arnett is one of 25 total members of South Carolina's 2026 transfer class, having spent the last four years playing for the Ferris State Bulldogs. Considered a powerhouse within the NCAA Division II and in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, or GLIAC, Ferris State has won four of the last five Division II national championships.
Originally a native of Grand Haven, Michigan, Arnett was a three-sport varsity athlete prior to beginning his collegiate career at Ferris State.
Besides playing on the football team as part of both the offensive and defensive lines, as well as the H-back and linebacker positions, Arnett was a member of the rugby and wrestling teams. He was an all-state wrestler for Grand Haven, among other high school accolades.
After high school, his focus transitioned solely to football, committing to Ferris State as an offensive lineman.
During his first year with the Bulldogs in 2022, he redshirted and was a member of the team that went 14-1 and captured the Division II national championship title. During the 2023 season, Arnett only played seven games for the Bulldogs, whose playoff hopes ended after losing in the first round to Grand Valley State.
For the 2024 season, Arnett became an every-week starter. With quarterback Trinidad Chambliss at the reins, Ferris State bounced right back, capturing the Division II national championship title once more and winning 14 consecutive games after losing its season opener against Pittsburgh State. Chambliss would later depart after the season to take over the starting quarterback position for the Ole Miss Rebels.
“He brought a lot of light to Ferris State. A lot of people don’t know where Ferris State is at. He is doing awesome things, super great things,” Arnest said. “He's a great kid, a great human being. And I’m super happy for him, and I’m blessed I got to block for him and be a part of his journey."
Arnett then began his final season with the Bulldogs as a redshirt junior in the starting left tackle position.
Ferris State went on to capture the GLIAC with a 7-0 record, as well as the Division II title for the second consecutive time, becoming the first Division II team to finish the season with a perfect 16-0 record.
After his success at Ferris State, Arnett had substantial interest from several Power Four schools, including Michigan State, Arkansas, Florida and UCLA, among others, once he entered the transfer portal.
However, during an official visit to Columbia, he was overcome with a special feeling.
“As soon as I stepped outside the car, it felt like home. One of our sayings is ‘Welcome home,’ and I saw that coming in, and I was like, ‘Wow, this is unreal,’” Arnett said. “Playing for South Carolina has always been a dream of mine; living in the state of South Carolina has been a dream of mine, so that played a big factor.”
Since officially joining the Gamecocks on Jan. 9, Arnett said he will carry the same mindset as he transitions to South Carolina.
“My mentality all throughout Ferris was just being the nastiest dude on the field, and I’m bringing that here. At Division II, we don’t have everything that we do here, so it’s a little different, it's a little different lifestyle,” Arnett said.
He has also embraced his role as an offensive lineman and connected with his new teammates, including redshirt junior quarterback LaNorris Sellers. At the same time, he has been able to bond with his fellow linemen, which includes a stacked total roster of eight transfers, eight returners and two rookies.
“I mean, the whole line, we all hang out outside of football. Whether it's going to get a bite to eat, playing card games, watching whatever it is, watching sports, we’ve all gotten to connect,” Arnett said. “LaNorris is a great dude. He came up and talked to me my first day here, so it's super good, and I’m happy that I’m here with a great set of people.”
For now, Arnett will continue to prepare for the upcoming season. Having already put in the time and effort by gaining a new Division I mindset and bonding with his teammates, Arnett said he hopes to truly get to know his new “brothers” on and off the field come time for the start of the 2026 football season.