Shane Beamer reveals plans for enrollment for incoming South Carolina transfers

The South Carolina Gamecocks have been busy in the transfer portal this offseason, with six players scheduled to be with the program next season. Of the six, Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler is the biggest name — reuniting with Shane Beamer.

On Friday, the South Carolina head coach gave an update on where the incoming transfers stood. He said all of them are still working toward getting to campus but could only address Rattler and tight end Austin Stogner publicly due to NCAA rules.

“The transfers that you guys have read about most recently — they are all in the process of getting here,” Beamer said. “Should be here in the next few days if they’re not here already. Austin Stogner still has a couple of classes he has to finish at Oklahoma so he’s got to finish that up this spring. Spencer (Rattler) is taking care of some loose ends in Arizona and isn’t on campus today but will be here soon. Other than the high school guys that didn’t enroll midyear, we should have everybody here pretty soon.”

Wake Forest running back Christian Beal-Smith, James Madison wide receiver Antwane Wells Jr., Central Michigan safety Devonni Reed, and North Carolina State defensive end Terrell Dawkins are the other four who have verbally committed to the Gamecocks.

Beamer is looking to improve on his first season in Columbia, which included a Duke’s Mayo Bowl win against North Carolina. Big wins against Florida and Auburn help set the tone for the Gamecocks but losses to Missouri and in-state rival Clemson can bring you crashing back to reality.

All six transfers, assuming the process goes smoothly, will debut against Georgia State on Sept. 3. A quick SEC road trip to Arkansas will follow the following week, giving Beamer a great measuring stick for his program.

South Carolina HC Frank Beamer wins Steve Spurrier Award

South Carolina coach Shane Beamer and Tennessee coach Josh Heupel are co-winners of the 2021 Steve Spurrier award, the FWAA announced Monday. The award is given annually to the best first-year coach in college football.

There are two coaches this year because they are both very deserving,” Spurrier said. “Preseason, their teams were picked at the bottom of the league, 12 and 13, but instead of gloom and doom they took their players and improved every game and both finished 7-6.”

Beamer, the son of legendary Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, also had an impressive head coaching debut. He took over a team coming off of a 2-8 campaign, leading them to a 7-6 finish and Duke’s Mayo Bowl victory.

On3’s Chandler Vessels contributed to this report