South Carolina has added former Appalachian State cornerback Ethan Johnson, who was not selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Johnson is entering his fifth season of eligibility as he returns to college football via a temporary restraining order granted to 16 football players by a Louisiana court. South Carolina announced that he is immediately eligible to practice with the team.
The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Johnson arrived at Appalachian State as a three-star prospect out of William Amos High School in North Carolina. He has appeared in 47 career games, including 39 starts, recording 141 tackles, 30 passes defended and 5.5 tackles for loss.
Johnson earned third team All-Sun Belt honors last season while recording 14 passes defended and an interception, which came in the Birmingham Bowl against Georgia Southern.
South Carolina opens its season at home against Kent State on Sept. 5.