In a move nobody saw coming, former South Carolina Gamecock linebacker Marcus “Smoke” Jenkins has just signed a $4.5 million record deal with Atlanta-based powerhouse label Quality Control Music, the same label behind acts like Lil Baby, Migos, and City Girls.
Yes, you read that right.
Jenkins, a hard-hitting linebacker who started for the Gamecocks from 2014 to 2017, is about to trade in cleats for charts. Known during his college days for his explosive tackles and relentless energy on the field, “Smoke” is now making waves in the hip-hop world with a voice, flow, and presence that’s turning heads across the industry.
But how did a former SEC linebacker land a multi-million dollar music deal?
Turns out, Jenkins has been writing music and producing underground mixtapes since his junior year at USC, quietly building a buzz in Columbia’s local music scene. After a clip of one of his freestyle sessions in Five Points went viral on TikTok (over 1.2 million views in 48 hours), execs took notice. Within a week, he was on a private flight to Atlanta.
Now he’s dropping his debut single “Blitz Talk”, and it features none other than Lil Baby—one of the biggest names in hip-hop today. The track, described by insiders as “raw, fast, and stadium-shaking,” opens with these now-trending bars:
“Ran through the SEC like it’s GameDay drills, now I’m runnin’ through charts with multi-mill deals.”
“From Williams-Brice to million-dollar mics, I’m still hittin’ hard—just switched up the fights.”
According to industry insiders, Jenkins’ voice—gritty yet smooth—and his authentic southern flow caught Lil Baby’s attention personally. Baby reportedly requested to be part of the track just a day after hearing the early demo.
In an exclusive phone interview with Vibe Magazine, Jenkins said:
“Football gave me the fire, but music gave me my freedom. This ain’t a side hustle—this is legacy.”
The news has spread like wildfire across South Carolina, with fans flooding Gamecock Facebook groups and Twitter feeds with praise, surprise, and curiosity. His former teammates are already hyping up the track, with several tweeting flame emojis and teasing his future album titled “Backfield Dreams”, rumored to drop this fall.
USC fans are already calling for Jenkins to return to Columbia for a halftime performance at Williams-Brice Stadium during the 2025 season. Rumors are flying that he might even film the music video on the field where his journey began.
No matter how you slice it, Marcus “Smoke” Jenkins is redefining what it means to be a Gamecock legend—from linebacker to lyricist.
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