Four years in, Shane Beamer is as fired up as ever about South Carolina football

“Excited.” “Fired up.” “Energized.” “Optimistic.” “Thrilled.” These are just some of the ways South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer has spoken recently about how he feels about the trajectory of the Gamecock program.

It’s easy to see why the Gamecock headman feels that way.

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USC finished the 2024 regular season on a six-game winning streak that included four ranked victories and culminated with a rivalry win over the Clemson Tigers. Thanks to the hot stretch, South Carolina was one of the first teams out of the College Football Playoff field. Now, if the Gamecocks beat the Illinois Fighting Illini in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Eve, the victory would represent a 10th win, something that has only happened four other times in the history of the program.

Beamer broke an all-time South Carolina record for wins in a coach’s first four seasons in Columbia. With 29 total victories (and another opportunity remaining), he passed Steve Spurrier’s 28 from 2005-2008. Only Beamer, Spurrier, Lou Holtz, Joe Morrison, and Paul Dietzel have multiple eight-win seasons with the Gamecocks. He also has moved into second place among all USC coaches in career top-10 triumphs.

There’s real optimism around the Carolina coaching staff, too. South Carolina has had three assistants leave for head coaching gigs in the last year, indicating the type of leaders coaching in Columbia. Guys who remain (like outside linebackers/defensive ends coach Sterling Lucas, defensive backs coach Torrian Gray, and wide receivers coach Mike Furrey) have shown themselves to be stars at their positions. Offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley has been one of the nation’s best recruiters up front, signing multiple blue-chip prospects in three consecutive cycles. Defensive coordinator Clayton White had his best season as a Gamecock in 2024. Defensive tackles coach Travian Robertson and running backs coach Marquel Blackwell oversaw massive improvements from last year. Special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis was a long-time NFL coordinator ahead of his hire last year. Tight ends coach and run game coordinator Shawn Elliott is a former head coach who is a Gamecock through-and-through.

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Individual player accolades have rolled in this season, too. On Monday, Kyle Kennard was named the Nagurski Trophy winner as the top defensive player in college football. He’s also nominated for a couple of other major awards. Fellow EDGE Dylan Stewart was named the On3 True Freshman Defensive Player of the Year. Kennard, Stewart, LaNorris Sellers, Nick Emmanwori, Demetrius Knight, Torricelli Simpkins, Rocket Sanders, Alex Herrera, and Kai Kroeger all won SEC or national weekly honors. There are several other players who could find themselves on All-SEC teams when the dust settles, as well. The NFL Draft has seen nine Gamecocks selected in the past two seasons; this year’s draft could match that total or come really close to it. Players who signed with the Gamecocks out of high school and players who have transferred into the program have experienced lots of success.

It also helps that the Gamecocks have some of the most exciting young players in the country on their roster. Stewart is the best freshman pass rusher in the country. Sellers is one of the best (and most exciting) young quarterbacks in the sport. The pair of South Carolina youngsters do things on the field that aren’t normal, especially for inexperienced players. As they continue to develop, all eyes will be on Columbia. Others like Nyck Harbor, Josiah Thompson, and a long list of others also will return in 2025 with high expectations.

Because, in part, the team’s College Football Playoff snub, Beamer and his players are looking forward to bowl season. The Citrus Bowl is viewed as the top non-CFP bowl available to the SEC, and the historic postseason game chose South Carolina to come to Orlando over marquee names like Alabama and Ole Miss. Pursuits of national validation, CFP Selection Committee-inspired vengeance, and a 10-win season have the Gamecocks “extremely motivated” to play in the game. Beamer also said he doesn’t believe there will be as many bowl opt-outs as some might expect. He credits the culture he’s helped build around his program for that.

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The Gamecocks have positioned themselves to have their third consecutive top-20 recruiting class. With the Early Signing Period completed (and, therefore, most of the class’ prospects signed), South Carolina is 19th in all of college football in the 2025 cycle. It’s early, but the 2026 recruiting class sits in the top 10 nationally.

Last week during his post-National Signing Day press conference, Beamer expressed how USC’s surge in recruiting this fall (picking up in-season or Signing Day commitments from Malik Clark, Jordon Gidron, Mike Tyler, Zavion Hardy, Christian Ingram, Damola Ajidahun, Josh Smith, and 2026 prospects Jamel Howse, Peyton Dyer, and J’Zavien Currence) was directly a result of the positive momentum within the South Carolina football program. When asked about his flip to the Gamecocks, Tyler backed up Beamer’s claim. Why did he choose USC? “The culture,” Tyler told GamecockCentral. “How they’re on the up-rise…just being part of the family is the main thing.”

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2023 wasn’t exactly what Beamer and the Gamecocks wanted on the field. A 5-7 record left Carolina out of a bowl game. However, there was no quit in the South Carolina football program. The coaching staff attacked recruiting, both from the high school ranks and the transfer portal. The team responded and stayed together. And thanks to a 9-3 regular season mark this fall, it appears 2023 was just a blip on the radar. Based on preseason national projections, Beamer’s team has outperformed expectations in three out of four years. That’s no coincidence, though. According to Beamer, it’s a sign of the direction South Carolina football is headed.

The Gamecocks were more competitive this season. Other than the Ole Miss contest (which flipped early with a failed fake punt), South Carolina competed in each contest. In fact, the other two losses on the ledger came by a combined five points. One of those defeats, as has been discussed ad nauseam, directly was influenced by questionable officiating. The Gamecocks also continued competing even when ahead, helping lead to six victories by at least 21 points. That is the second-most ever for USC and the most since 1987. Showcasing the team’s ability to compete in hostile environments, three of those blowouts came on the road. A win in the bowl game would tie the ’87 team for the program record.

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Optimism around South Carolina football is at its highest point since Steve Spurrier roamed the sidelines at Williams-Brice Stadium. The team is winning, recruiting is going well, and the national media is talking about the Gamecocks at every turn. That sure sounds like something worth being excited, fired up, energized, optimistic, and thrilled about moving forward.

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