Shane Beamer evaluates South Carolina's tight end room without Austin Stogner

Shane Beamer evaluated the current tight end room at South Carolina as the Gamecocks await the arrival of Oklahoma transfer Austin Stogner. In a press conference earlier this week, Beamer revealed his thoughts.

“As far as the tight ends go, it’s kind of a mass unit right now,” started Beamer. “Because Austin’s not here. Jaheim [Bell] hasn’t, isn’t practicing right now. [Traevon] Kenion practiced today, but he’s got a little bit of an ankle that’s been bothering him, so he’s not really full speed. So, it’s been tough to get reps. I mean, Wyatt Campbell’s an offensive tackle. Wyatt’s playing a little bit of tight end for us right now, just to be able to get through practice. You know. Jessie Sanders is out there. Chad Terrell is a wide receiver that’s a bigger body that we’ve put in there, just to do some tight end, h-back stuff. Just trying to get reps.

“So, it’s very critical for Kenion, and we need him to get 100% healthy, so he can take advantage of the opportunity that he could be getting right now. With those other two guys not being there. Along with all those tight ends.”

While South Carolina faithful is excited for the arrival of Austin Stogner, Shane Beamer is hoping to evaluate some tight ends in the meantime. However, health and a myriad of other factors have made it difficult for the Gamecocks.

Shane Beamer updates the timetable on Austin Stogner’s arrival

Although South Carolina coach Shane Beamer has had the opportunity to evaluate a number of transfer players in spring practice so far, he is still waiting on a big name to arrive: Austin Stogner. The former Oklahoma tight end made the decision to transfer to the Gamecocks this offseason, and figures to be a key part of the passing game led by former Sooners quarterback Spencer Rattler in 2022.

However, he has not yet arrived on campus. Stogner still has four classes left to graduate from Oklahoma and is unable to join the Gamecocks until he completes them. In a press conference Tuesday, Beamer provided an update on what the communication has been like with Stogner while he finishes his degree.

“As soon as he finishes his four classes that he’s got to take to graduate from Oklahoma, he’ll be here,” the coach said. “He’s able to come occasionally where it’s not on a consistent basis. [Stogner’s] been out (to spring practice) a couple of times like any high school recruit, because that’s essentially what he is as far as being able to get out here. He’s back home right now finishing up the online classes. As soon as all that’s done, he’ll be here for good. Whether that be May, June or whatnot.”

The No. 3 tight end from the 2019 class according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average, Stogner joined the Sooners the same season as Rattler. When Rattler took over as the starting quarterback in 2020, the two showed a strong connection. Stogner finished with 26 catches for 422 yards and three touchdowns across eight games that year. He missed the final four games of the regular season after suffering a knee injury against Kansas.