The South Carolina football team will play in its annual Garnet and Black Spring game Friday with expectations at its highest point of the Shane Beamer era.
In ESPN's "Way-Too-Early" rankings for the 2025-26 season, the Gamecocks come in as the No. 10 team in the nation, according to ESPN. After just missing the College Football Playoff in 2024-25, Beamer looks to build on the success of last year despite the losses of many impact players to the NFL draft.
Throughout spring practice, Beamer has been adamant about the Gamecocks being without a set depth chart. So, for fans and coaches, seeing how the Gamecocks perform under the lights at Williams-Brice Stadium can give a glimpse of what's to come in 2025.
“So before we watch the spring game on Friday night, and we see whoever trots out there with LaNorris (Sellers) and just assume that, ‘There’s your 2025 offensive line!’ We’re drafting, okay, so we’re drafting an offensive line," Beamer said.
Offense still in open competition for starting jobs
While the Gamecocks are seemingly set at quarterback with SEC Freshman of the Year LaNorris Sellers returning for his redshirt sophomore season, the supporting cast will be much different, starting with who calls the plays.
With former offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains becoming the head coach at Appalachian State University, former quarterbacks coach Mike Shula has taken over as offensive coordinator for the Gamecocks.
“The transition with Coach Shula’s been great. I think our staff's working well together. I think our players are embracing the things that we're doing, and the effort has been outstanding,” tight ends coach Shawn Elliott said.
South Carolina's leading rusher and receiver from the 2024 season are both set for the NFL draft in running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders and tight end Joshua Simon. While replacing them may be out of the question, the Gamecocks have turned to a committee approach built on putting guys in the right spot more than a true number one option.
Under a new offensive coordinator in addition to so many new faces on offense the spring game is a great time for continuity to develop with players getting valuable game like experience as a team.
“You just want your guys to go out there, feel comfortable with what they're doing and then go execute” Offensive coordinator Mike Shula said.
The top candidate at running back is seventh-year Utah State transfer Rahsul Faison, but his availability is still in question. Faison will not participate in the spring game pending eligibility confirmation. Faison petitioned after last season through the "Pavia rule" for a seventh-year of eligibility. The "Pavia rule" is a new rule in college football that allows a player's years spent in junior college not count against their eligibility. Last season for the Aggies, Faison rushed for 1,109 yards and eight touchdowns.
Fellow seventh-year Oscar Adaway III, along with redshirt sophomore Jawarn Howell and redshirt freshman Matthew Fuller, will participate in the spring game. All three backs saw game action for South Carolina last season.
At tight end, however, there is much more uncertainty. Sophomore Michael Smith, standing at 6 feet, 6 inches, and 248 pounds, has the most upside, catching 10 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown as a freshman last season. However, Smith will not play in the spring game due to an injury.
Despite being an older group with redshirt senior and Kentucky transfer Jordan Dingle, redshirt senior Brady Hunt and junior Maurice Brown, the group only caught a combined 12 passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns in 2024.
For the wide receiver group, youth and athleticism are the biggest strengths. Headlined by returning starters junior Nyck Harbor and sophomore Mazeo Bennett Jr., the group is looking to have a much bigger impact in 2025.
However, for most of the receivers, the Garnet & Black Spring Game will be their first time playing in front of fans at Williams-Brice Stadium. The Gamecocks sport a star-studded recruiting class showcasing four four-star recruits at wide receiver.
South Carolina native and four-star Malik Clark, along with fellow four-stars Lex Cyrus and Brian Rowe Jr., will all get their first chance to impress the Gamecock faithful on Friday.
“In the first nine practices they've really come along, and I think they've all flashed at certain times,” Beamer said. “It’s a fun group, and there’s a lot of competition in there right now.”
Defense preparing for plenty of new faces
Last season the Gamecocks were led by its defense, but, the unit is forced to reload after six starters from last season are preparing for the NFL draft, a group headlined by safety Nick Emmanwori and edge rusher Kyle Kennard. In addition to redshirt freshman edge Wendell Gregory entering the transfer portal, the Gamecocks' defense will be much different next season.
With the return of freshman All-American Dylan Stewart, defensive coordinator Clayton White will look to pick up where he left off in building the defensive line. Stewart will be paired with junior defensive tackle Zavion Hardy, the No. 1 junior college recruit in the country, per 247Sports.
In addition to Hardy, the defense is littered with transfers who will look to make an impact starting with the spring game.
“The new transfers that have come in have really done a nice job of solidifying that they belong” Beamer said.
At the linebacker level, the Gamecocks will feature newcomers who will look to take strides into a starting role. In the mix is sophomore Alabama transfer Justin Okoronkwo along with freshman Donovan Darden, a four-star recruit and the No. 3 ranked prospect from North Carolina, according to On3.
“They really surprised me they all learn football very easy, they all play with great effort, they're big they're physical, they can run” defensive coordinator Clayton White said."
In the secondary, the Gamecocks see the most turnover from last season, and while the leader and captain in Emmanwori is gone, junior defensive back Jalon Kilgore is expected to pick up the slack. Kilgore is coming off a year where he had five interceptions and 48 tackles, but his next step is becoming a leader for a defense with a high expectation.
"Just become more of a leader towards the team, a more vocal leader, and just tune in on my techniques and details, make sure I'm not taking no false steps, perfect on all my reps, and just having a pretty perfect spring," Kilgore said.
Along with Kilgore, the starting defensive backs could include junior defensive back Judge Collier and senior safety DQ Smith.However, the Gamecocks will likely turn to a transfer opposite of Collier playing corner on the outside.
Junior NC State transfer cornerback Brandon Cisse and former Ball State redshirt senior cornerback Myles Norwood are both in contention and will see their first game action in front of fans in the spring game.
Cisse also has shown great versatility being used as a nickel corner in addition to playing on the outside.
The annual Garnet & Black Spring Game is Friday, April 18, and the game is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. The game will not be televised, but an all-access look into the Gamecocks' spring practice will air on ESPN platforms later this spring.