Notes on what Shane Beamer said in Florence

South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer met with the media Monday evening prior to signing autographs and taking pictures with fans at the Florence stop of the Welcome Home Tour.

Below are quick notes on what the fifth-year head coach had to say.

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— In a lot of ways your roster is truly year-to-year because of the transfer portal. But then also the laws and rules are changing every year. Even now, it’s tough because your basing roster decisions on what you think is going to happen with a lawsuit in California. You take it day by day, knowing that it may change.

— They’ve got different plans for all types of outcomes when it comes to the House settlement case and the potential for players being eligible to play five years in five. Love the guys on the team and would like to keep them around for longer.

— This time last year at the Florence stop was announcing LaNorris Sellers as the starter. It’s a great community here. It’s an exciting kickoff to the tour. The season ticket and Gamecock Club renewals and new members are at a really good pace right now.

— Jayden Sellers is doing well. He’s gotten off to a really good start along with some of the other true freshman receivers. Spring ball is only going to help him. He got better each practice and finished on a high note. The arrow is pointing up.

— Happy for T.J. Sanders and going to miss him. He had a ton of energy and appreciate that he stuck around when Beamer was hired. Had a great career. Remember coming into staff meeting and asking why T.J. Sanders was redshirting because he couldn’t be blocked in practice.

— Love how steady and consistent LaNorris Sellers is. His personality never changes. He’s steady and consistent. That’s a great quality to have in your leader and your QB. He got better in every game and that’s the goal for him this year is to continue to get better as a QB and a leader. He’s been more vocal and is holding guys accountable more. Pleased with the progress on and off the field.

— Tell the players on the team, when we say we need guys at a particular position, that’s not to say you’re not good enough, it’s saying that we need depth. Every position has a target number for scholarships and some we’re below that.

Feel really good about defensive back and linebacker. Defensive line — defensive tackle and defensive end — that’s a position where numbers wise are not where we want to be, just overall depth. Felt that way going into the spring — that’s a position where we might want to add players — if we don’t that’s okay but at the same time when you’ve had some injuries and you don’t want to rely on true freshmen, that makes you want to think about things.

Do feel better about defensive tackle and defensive line as a whole than he did prior to the spring because of the way some guys performed. Gabe Brownlow-Dindy, Monkell Goodwine, Nick Barrett had a “great” springs. In addition to Dylan Stewart, Bryan Thomas Jr., Des Umueozulu, and Anthony Addison are guys they’re excited about. So feel better but still concerned about overall depth at some spots.

Don’t look at any position on offense right now and say we have to do something.

Thought before the spring that they might end up adding a kicker or punter but as of today, they don’t plan to. Met with the kickers and punters and told them that exiting the spring they don’t feel like they need to attack the portal for a punter or kicker. Never say never but based on the way they kicked and punted in the spring, probably won’t. They’re young but eager to see them take a step.

— Kelvin Hunter has a big upside. He can run, he’s physical, he’s tough. He started out spring ball well and then had an injury that set him back, but finished on a strong note and made some nice plays coming down hill tackling. He’s at a safety position with some depth but he’s battling for that spot opposite DQ Smith.

— It was invaluable to be able to get a lot of reps on kickoff, punt, and field goal in front of fans. So many of the specialists, that was there first time in that environment. Was great to put them in pressure kick situations. You don’t get three down as a specialist. You get one shot at it in a game and have to take advantage.

— Have not mapped out everything for preseason camp but will likely do a similar structure to last year but one day later because of the first game being on a Sunday. Will map it out for sure in May.

— (On if any newcomer has taken the bull by the horns as a leader like Demetrius Knight last year) Not quite to the extent but the leadership is coming along. Boaz Stanley has those qualities. You go through the first few months and try to get acclimated and then you have a break in May and then when you coming back for the summer, you’re more established and can take the bull by the horns. That’s what Spencer Rattler and D Knight did. There are multiple guys that have those qualities and we need them.

Nick Sharpe is one of those guys. He was banged up but he has the qualities. Boaz at center there is a natural leadership quality to that position. Those are two on offense that come to mind.

We’ve got three transfers in Boaz, Brady Hunt, and Brownlow-Dindy who are married. So the other guys look up to them.

— Did 27 “end of spring” meetings on Friday before the spring game, 33 on Monday, then 20 something Tuesday, then will wrap them up on Friday.

They’ve been good with no major surprises. They’ve been solid.

News is out today on someone who came to him and said he wanted to play (Kam Pringle) but he currently was not on the two-deep. Didn’t want to sit the bench for another year. Don’t like seeing guys leave that soon after one year but also want all our guys to be happy with their roles.

There’s a lot of excitement about the 2025 season. Of course there are a lot of different things at play. We’ll see how the rest of the week goes. Will sleep well and enjoy the weekend after the portal closes on Friday.

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