Members of the South Carolina football team took to the podium on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the depth chart and team chemistry before the Gamecocks' season opener on Saturday against Old Dominion.
"(We're) really excited to get out there and play on Saturday afternoon," said head coach Shane Beamer, who is heading into his fourth season in charge of the program. "Our guys have been nothing but fantastic since January. Love what we've done as a team and how we've grown."
The Gamecocks' first game of the regular season serves as a culmination of the team's preseason camp, which began when players reported on Aug. 1.
Redshirt senior defensive tackle Alex Huntley , one of the team's returning captions, said he considered the team's preseason as a success.
"It's been a great camp," Huntley said. "(It's been a) great week leading up to this week, so I'm just excited to get out there with this D-line."
First depth chart released
South Carolina football released its first depth chart of the season on Monday ahead of the Gamecocks' season opener. But Beamer made it clear that the team's lineup on Saturday may not reflect what it will look like during future weeks.
"We'll constantly continue to compete throughout the year," Beamer said. "That's how we do things."
One notable announcement was the naming of sixth-year Alex Herrera as the team's starting kicker. Herrera is a veteran special teams player who has spent his entire college career with the Gamecocks and was recently put on scholarship this past spring.
"Coming out of preseason ... we felt like Alex was just a little bit farther along," Beamer said. "I thought as we got into scrimmage situations, more competitive situations, stadium environments, that Alex took a step and separated himself from the rest of that group."
Beamer also said opportunities for playing time will be available for players not explicitly listed on the depth chart that will "play a lot on Saturday for us on offense and defense."
Sellers comfortable before first start
As redshirt freshman quarterback LaNorris Sellers prepares for his first college start, he said he is excited for the opportunity. He's dreamed about the opportunity since he was a kid, he said.
Sellers was officially named South Carolina's starter for week one on Aug. 20. His his work ethic and routine will remain the same, even though his role has changed from the 2023 season, he said. Sellers served as former Gamecock quarterback Spencer Rattler's primary backup.
"I think you go into it the same way, you prepare the same way," Sellers said. "Last year, if something happened, you need to be prepared, but this year you have to be prepared because we know I'm the guy."
The Florence, South Carolina, native said the team's preseason quarterback battle, which included fifth-year Robby Ashford and sixth-year Davis Beville, was important for his development.
"Competition pushes you to be better," Sellers said . "It would be better to have somebody in here competing with you, rather than just coming in here and they say, 'Oh, you're the starter.' You might get lackadaisical."
"When you go through things with people, it brings you together"
Members of South Carolina's defense used Tuesday's press conference as an opportunity to discuss their individual growth and the unit's experience with one another.
"Each person on the D-line has truly taken a step forward, myself included," Huntley said. "The style in which we play, we're all in one standard."
Huntley is a part of a defensive tackle rotation that includes several returnees, including fifth-year Tonka Hemingway, redshirt junior T.J. Sanders and senior Nick Barrett.
The Gamecocks' opening week depth chart includes 21 players who have experience playing at South Carolina. Fifth-year linebacker Debo Williams said the group's experience and continuity will pay dividends this season.
"Everything that we've been through — when you go through things with people, it brings you together," Williams said. "Just the experience, and the brotherhood and the love that we've got for each other. We know each other that much better, so I expect nothing but the best from us."
Junior safety Nick Emmanwori, who started 23 games in his career at South Carolina, said he is excited to see what the 2024 edition of the defense looks like.
"We're fired up," Emmanwori said. "I think the whole defense is back, really. Chemistry's been going up, everything feels good, fluid. We're gonna be ready to go."
What's next?
South Carolina will open its 2024 season on Saturday, Aug. 31, against the Old Dominion Monarchs. Kickoff is set for 4:15 p.m., and the game will be televised on the SEC Network.