Shane Beamer explains how he plans to address open competitions at QB, RB

South Carolina coach Shane Beamer has some decisions to make this season. It starts with the quarterback — but running back won’t be easy to decide, either.

Luke Doty was the starter last season, but the Gamecocks brought in Oklahoma transfer and one-time Heisman favorite Spencer Rattler. They also have four-star recruit Tanner Bailey and three-star Braden Davis coming in, as well — which could make for quite a competition.

On National Signing Day, Beamer said he hasn’t given much thought to the competition because he’s been caught up in recruiting. However, the staff will get a plan together soon to get ready for the open competition.

“That’s stuff, when we get back in next week … we brought these guys in and hardly seen the coaches because we’ve been all over the country recruiting, and then we get back together on Fridays and Saturdays and Sundays for official visit weekends and junior days,” Beamer said in his press conference. “That’s all recruiting. Then we go back out on the road.

“So when we get back in the office next week, we’ll really sit down and figure out how to make sure because we’ve got, obviously, Spencer coming in. We’ve got to continue to get Luke better at quarterback, we’ve got to continue to get Colton better at quarterback. Tanner’s not here, but Braden Davis is here and getting him experience and seeing what these guys can do. So finding a way to maximize their reps at running back, as well, to get a great evaluation on all these guys and what they can do for us. We’ll have a great plan for that.”

South Carolina has interesting decisions to make at QB, RB

Quarterback isn’t the only position that could have some question marks.

At running back, the Gamecocks landed Wake Forest transfer Christian Beal-Smith, adding to the intrigue at the running back position this coming season.

South Carolina has the No. 28 recruiting class in the country this year, according to the On3 Consensus Team Rankings. The Gamecocks also landed the No. 10 transfer in the portal in Rattler and the No. 41 transfer in former Oklahoma tight end Austin Stogner, according to the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings.

As Beamer gets ready for his second year in Columbia, he has talent coming in — but that also makes for tough decisions as the season comes around the corner.