Shane Beamer addresses decision to dismiss Kelton Henderson

While he was ultimately mostly close to the chest with his reasons as to why, South Carolina head Shane Beamer confirmed on Tuesday that freshman wideout Kelton Henderson was no longer with the program. Beamer confirmed it was the decision of the coaching staff to move on from Henderson.

But, Beamer said, he still holds Henderson in high regard as a person. Beamer also added that he’d willingly place a call or two on behalf of Henderson as he searches for a new spot.

“That was our decision,” Beamer said. “Think a lot of Kelton. Wish him well. But there’s an expectation level of how we’re going to do things in this program, inside this building and outside this building. And just a body of work that wasn’t what we wanted, as well. And care about him, want to help him in anyway. Told him I would call anybody for him. He’s a guy that has ability and will be pulling for him. But just won’t be here.”

Henderson played high school football at Lehigh Senior (Fla.) High School, where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 585 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Beamer recently discussed the quarterback battle for South Carolina this spring

is one of a handful of SEC teams that will have to break in a new starting quarterback this fall following the departure of the talented Spencer Rattler for the NFL Draft.

There are a bevy of options, including a pair of transfers.

“I think first of all there’s just great competition in that room because you’ve got a bunch of guys that are all competing and they all believe they can be and should be the quarterback here at South Carolina,” coach Shane Beamer said. “So there’s great competition, first of all, which I love. Then I think there’s just an experience and a maturity aspect with those guys.”

Some of the more experienced players are Auburn transfer Robby Ashford and Oklahoma transfer Davis Beville. They’re two additions from a large transfer class this offseason.

The Gamecocks added significant talent at a handful of positions.

“We may have a lot of new faces around here, not just in the quarterback room, but across the board,” Beamer said. “We may have lost a lot of production here at Carolina, but we replaced it with a lot of production from other schools. … I say that because it’s the same situation in the quarterback room as well. Those guys have played at this level.”