Shane Beamer pleased with Kam Pringle's first spring with South Carolina
The majority of South Carolina’s incoming freshmen took advantage of acclimating themselves to the program this past spring. Of the 15 high school recruits who committed to the Gamecocks, 12 enrolled early.
Kam Pringle was among those 12 freshmen who participated in South Carolina’s spring practice. Pringle headed into the campaign as the No. 18 offensive tackle and No. 3 in-state prospect, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. He was also tabbed the No. 269 recruit overall in the class of 2024.
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That high-end talent was on display during spring practice, and head coach Shane Beamer took notice. During Beamer’s Welcome Home Tour event in Charleston, right down the road from Pringle’s Dorchester, S.C. hometown, he was asked about the rookie.
“Give credit to him. He worked in the springtime and was able to get out there and do some stuff in practice,” Beamer said. “He was pretty active during spring practice – not 100 percent for all 15 days. But we were able to get enough. He was able to get some really good work during the spring.”
Pringle arrived with a prior injury that was quickly addressed and he was able to participate more in the spring than was maybe initially thought.
Despite his spring success, Pringle has already found areas to improve upon before the regular season. Beamer said Pringle is looking to improve his physical fitness ahead of the regular season.
“He’d be the first to tell you he probably need to lose some weight. Get rid of that baby fat, whatever you want to call it. But he’s done a really good job trying to be intentional about buying into what we’re doing from a nutrition standpoint – attacking the weight room, eating the right way, the way he trains,” Beamer said. “I haven’t seen him in about a week and a half. And you’re reminded, ‘Wow, he doesn’t really look like a freshman right out of high school.’”
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Beamer also noted that offensive lineman is the hardest position for freshmen to play. That hasn’t stopped recent South Carolina players from making an impact along the line, though. Both Tree Babalade and Trovon Baugh started for the Gamecocks last year in their debut college campaigns.
Learning from Babalade and Bough, along with South Carolina’s offensive line veterans, will help Pringle, Beamer said. He said he anticipates Pringle can play his way into earning snaps right away.
“He’s around some really good players, and they’re all making each other better,” Beamer said. “We fully expect him to get in there and compete and have the opportunity to earn a significant role this season.”
Babalade and Baugh were able to do so despite not arriving in Columbia until last June, Beamer said. Once the summer rolls around, Pringle can use what he learned in the spring to his advantage and make that happen.
“He’s gone through spring practice. He knows how we do things in the weight room. He’s really acclimated and adjusted well off the field, socially, academically. And then he’s done a really good job on the field,” Beamer said. “I’m excited to see the steps that he will take this summer going into preseason camp.”
