Shane Beamer explains if he would welcome a player back after entering portal

Like all other coaches, South Carolina head coach Shame Beamer is still figuring out the intricacies of the NCAA Transfer Portal. One situation he hasn’t had to deal with yet is a player who entered the portal asking to come back to the Gamecocks.

Beamer was asked at an event Tuesday what he would do if — and more likely, when — that situation would arise.

“Haven’t crossed that bridge yet,” Beamer said. “Haven’t dealt with that situation. I think every situation is different. I think a lot of that is based on what was a particular person’s status on the team before they went in the portal. Why did they go in the portal? Were they getting pressure from the outside from different people to go in the portal? Why do they want to come back? What do their teammate former teammates say about them as well? I think every situation is different. I don’t want to back myself into a corner on any situation. Like I tell our players and coaches, every decision I make as the football coach of South Carolina will always be what I feel like is best for the South Carolina football program. That’s short term, long term, that isn’t just necessarily winning games just what’s best for us as a program.”

Beamer and the Gamecocks have landed eight players in the NCAA Transfer Portal this offseason while losing 16 to the portal.

Among the biggest losses in the portal for Beamer and company were EDGE and former Five-Star Plus+ prospect Jordan Burch to Oregon, running back MarShawn Lloyd to USC, tight end Jaheim Bell to Florida State and tight end Austin Stogner to Oklahoma.

According to On3’s Transfer Portal Wire, six South Carolina players have entered the portal and not yet found new homes.

That eight incoming players include former Florida tight end Nick Elksnis, former Arkansas tight end Trey Knox and former Ole Miss linebacker Jaron Willis.

Willis said in March that he is feeling good that he will be able to carve out an important role on the Gamecocks defense.

“I’m very confident. I can say I’m very confident. That’s why I’m here,” Willis said, via GamecockCentral. “Having the opportunity, that’s what I’m asking for.” 

South Carolina. also just landed former Syracuse defensive lineman Jatius Geer, a Palmetto State native who played high school football at Honea Path (S.C.) Belton-Honea Path, on Thursday.

Ironically, it came the same day that former Gamecocks quarterback Braden Davis announced he was committing to play for the Orange.