Beamer talks MarShawn Lloyd's decision to enter transfer portal
Like most teams in college football this year, South Carolina has had its fair share of roster turnover courtesy of players opting out of the Gator Bowl or hoping in the transfer portal.
“It’s tough out there right now guys,” Shane Beamer told media members Wednesday. “We’re in a great situation here at Carolina. I look around and there’s all those other schools that have close to 20 right now of their players in the portal and things like that…that’s part of it and wish guys that that aren’t here well.”
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On Monday, MarShawn Lloyd became the seventh Gamecock to announce their decision to enter the portal via social media.
“I am forever grateful for the love and support from the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, the City of Columbia and our true fans,” Lloyd’s tweet said. “I would like to thank coach Beamer, the rest of the coaching staff and trainers for helping me develop into the player I am today.”
Wednesday–when introducing new offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains–Beamer had his first chance to publicly comment on Lloyd’s departure and the talks they had leading up to the decision.
Beamer said he had conversations with Lloyd immediately following South Carolina’s win over Clemson “could not have been more positive.”
“We had a fantastic conversation and things were absolutely fantastic,” Beamer said.
But as exams finished and players went home for a few days before bowl practice began Dec. 15, Lloyd’s mind changed.
“He went back home – he’s home right now – and obviously when he got back home, some things in his mind changed that I wasn’t aware of or that we didn’t talk about that day,” Beamer said.
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Beamer returned from a recruiting trip in Washington DC on Sunday night and said he had additional conversations with Lloyd and his family on Monday morning.
“We talked on Monday morning, him and his mom and I, for a long time,” Beamer said. “Wish him well.”
Lloyd enters the portal as a redshirt sophomore. During his time at South Carolina, he battled injuries but showed flashes of the highly-touted recruit he once was.
He totaled 801 rushing yards during 21 games as a Gamecock and ran for 10 touchdowns.
This season, Lloyd led South Carolina in rushing with 573 yards and nine touchdowns. Lloyd averaged 63.7 yards per game and just over five yards per carry in 2022.
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With Lloyd and Jaheim Bell both no longer on the roster – Beamer said the Gamecocks will have to get creative for their matchup with Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl.
Beamer said it certainly changes bowl game prep, but that at the end of the day the coaching staff still had to do their jobs.
“It’ll be more challenging when you’re missing guys,” Beamer said. “But that’s why we get paid to coach – be creative and try and come up with a game plan.”
