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Eastern Illinois at South Carolina
Williams-Brice Stadium (80,250)  •   Columbia, SC
Sept. 4, 2021   •  6 p.m.   •   TV: ESPN+

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Article written by Dan Verdun (Prairie State Pigskin - click link for more FCS coverage)

Tyler Hamilton was rated as a three-star recruit coming out of Hilton Head, S.C. After three years at Purdue, the versatile transfer receiver finds himself at Eastern Illinois. Saturday, Hamilton will be back in his home state when the Panthers play at the University of South Carolina.

"It will be a good experience for me, seeing my family," Hamilton told Prairie State Pigskin. "Having a much bigger fan base there (is also part of the experience)."

Hamilton will also go against former foes from his home state.

"I've got a lot of guys that play on South Carolina that I went against in high school," the 5-foot-9, 170-pound redshirt junior said. "Not getting recruited by South Carolina out of high school is putting a chip on my shoulder."

Hamilton starred at Hilton Head High School where he finished as the program's all-time leader in career touchdowns. He played both running back and receiver, rushing for 634 yards and five touchdowns while catching 32 passes for 610 yards and five touchdowns his senior year. Hamilton also added two touchdowns on kick returns in 2016.

Hamilton said that "around 30-plus" family and friends will be in attendance for EIU's trip to Columbia to play the Gamecocks.

"He's excited. He's excited for sure," EIU head coach Adam Cushing said. "He had a nice game (against Indiana State), did a couple of nice things for us."

Hamilton is one of two EIU players from The Palmetto State.   Transfer Kobe Rodgers is also from Gaffney, SC as he transferred in to play his final season at EIU after starting his career at Gardner-Webb.