Shane Beamer updates status of Jakai Moore, shares Trai Jones is 'working through some things'

Players have no shortage of decisions to make during the offseason. On Friday, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer provided updates on two of his players, starting with offensive lineman Jakai Moore.

“Jakai is great,” Beamer told the press. “[He’s] here working out, looks great, doing well, and excited. Eager to get going.”

On Friday, South Carolina revealed Moore will use his COVID year of eligibility to return for a sixth season in Columbia. The 6-foot-6, 318-pound veteran has appeared in 44 career games with South Carolina, making 28 starts.

Despite his stockpile of appearances, Moore’s playing time has been limited in the past due to numerous injuries. In the 2023 campaign, Moore appeared in all but one of the Gamecocks’ contests.

While Moore opted to return to South Carolina next season, not every Gamecock will be running it back in 2024. On Friday, GamecockCentral learned that fifth-year offensive lineman Trai Jones will not return to South Carolina next season and is stepping away from football.

Beamer was asked about Jones on Friday. Shane Beamer did not confirm that Jones is retiring and left the door open for a return.

“Trai is working through some things right now,” Beamer said. “Started out workouts with us last week and is taking a little bit of time right now to figure out what’s next for him.

“Everything’s fine, it’s nothing concerning, he’s just thinking through some things about what the next step is for him in regard to his football career. Something that we’re working through right now but we’re in constant communication with him.”

During his career at South Carolina, Jones saw action in a total of 29 games with six starts as an offensive guard. In the 2021 season, he appeared at fullback and notably caught a touchdown pass in a home win over Auburn.

South Carolina losing staff members

Jones isn’t the only member of the program South Carolina won’t return next season. Last week, tight ends coach Jody Wright accepted the head coaching job at Murray State. Wright spent two seasons at South Carolina, where he mentored multiple talented tight ends, including Jaheim Bell and Trey Knox.

Additionally, on Sunday, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Buffalo was in conversation with South Carolina special teams coordinator/associate head coach Pete Lembo to become the program’s next head coach.

Lembo has spent four seasons in South Carolina. In 2022, Lembo was named a Broyles Award Assistant Coach of the Year Semifinalist, a FootballScoop Special Teams Coach of the Year Finalist and earned Phil Steele’s Special Teams Coach of the Year accolades for his unit’s overwhelming success.