Shocking might very well describe what the now-panicked locals in South Carolina have just heard. But for many student athletes, like Desean Jenkins, who felt “Like I found my family,” the next question is “Where do we go from here?” just like Rasheed Harris, a Jamaican sophomore track and field star with just one news that broke on Wednesday. According to 12 WRDW News, 15 athletes signed from the CSRA to play for Limestone. However, their dreams have now become heartbreaking nightmares. The statement from April 16, 2025, Gaffney, South Carolina, read:

“After 179 years educating students in person, Limestone University is facing a critical turning point which may require transitioning to online only classes or at worst ceasing operations completely… While full closure remains a risk, the institution is considering a scenario that would discontinue all in-person academic operations and all other activities, including athletics, in Gaffney.”

The Saints play in 23 NCAA Division II sports and have been a hype with their fourth-ranked men’s lacrosse team winning five NCAA Division II National Championships. Shutting down the program would mean these student athletes will not have a home, but they know “We’re all a family,” as Franky St. Louis put it. Hence, the athletic leaders of Limestone talked to these rising stars on Thursday to discuss their fate if the worse was to happen. Probably why, we have another update from the campus now.

UpNext Portal and multiple sources posted on their Instagram accounts, “Due to financial reasons Limestone University (SC) had 94 players enter the transfer portal at the same time. 🤯” 

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As for their football program which they introduced in 2014, things were looking up. They played their very first home game in 2022. In July 2024, they had their very first football player, WR Jelani Baker, drafted to the United Football League in the seventh round. He also signed a free agent contract with the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. Before him, Vyncint Smith, who went undrafted in the NFL, signed with the Houston Texans in 2018 as a free agent. After a one-year stint, he then played three seasons with the New York Jets.

Under head coach, Jerrico Cotchery, they posted one of country’s top turnaround with 8-3 record in 2024, with wins over North Carolina conference partners Catawba and Mars Hill. The Saints athletes have also been doing equally great on the academic front, bringing in 204 D-II Academic Achievement awards in 2024, joining an elite class in the nation with only other 12 institutes to sweep over 200 academic awards in the South Atlantic Conference. Of the 204, 24 awardees were from the football roster, which will now possibly disband.

Cotchery took to his X to share his feelings on the matter and his unemployed status. “Words can’t express how heartbroken I am for my staff and players after hearing Limestone University is shutting down. They have poured everything into making this a respected program across the country! You won’t find a better group of people. It was a joy working with them every single day! We had an incredible staff, roster, and 2025 signing class! If you need a reference on any of them feel free to reach out. Thank you to EVERYONE, especially the families, who supported us over the past three seasons! I love you all and will forever be grateful! Romans 8:28.”  

The predicament is tough for the student athletes too. The seniors who chose to stay, are now stranded to look for a new home entering May. The freshman class too is in the same situation like Myran “Beans” Hunt who has not even picked the ball for the Saints.

Talking about Beans, Richard Bush, former coach of Limestone Athletics mentioned, “We’re in the process now of trying to find him a new home. You know, he’s a tremendous young man, a tremendous football player.”

Limestone University is reportedly under a debt of $30 million. Unless they can conjure an emergency infusion of $6 million quickly, operations will be cease, and the 50-acre campus will be sold. The concerned people will sit on April 22 to discuss the fate of the school which not only imparted knowledge to generations of students in almost two centuries but also added to the community.

The university contributes about $150 million to Cherokee County’s economy. If it ceases to exist, the community will be hit. The gravity of this predicament becomes even gut-wrenching when you zoom out and take in a holistic view of Limestone University.

The NCAA Transfer Portal doesn’t offer respite to everybody involved with Limestone University

In the grand scheme of things, Limestone University’s football program came into existence in 2014. They’ve made noise since, but what could be a bright future now seems bleak. On Wednesday, assistant coach Preston Rice posted on X, “Limestone University informed the Faculty and students today that the University will be shutting down at the end of the semester. Our current players and Class of 25s will be looking for new opportunities.”

But that isn’t as easy. Nevertheless, the program did make waves. QB Dustin Noller earned back-to-back SAC offensive player of the year honors. Now, some names to look out for would be RB Kevin Lalin, LB Luke Janack, and DB Jeremiah Lomax as they continue searching another turf to play at.

Founded in 1845, Limestone was one of the country’s first women-only schools, becoming co-ed in the 1990s. This was one of the trailblazers for equality. For Limestone to be in such dire straits now is a travesty. Over 1000 students in total are about to have their futures thrown into uncertainty. Hopefully, the school can somehow find a way to continue.