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COLUMBIA — It took South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer four seconds after saying "Yeah" to articulate what he's seen from freshman offensive linemanDarius Gray so far.
"He's pretty impressive, he really is," Beamer said Aug. 11, drawing attention to the fact that unlike a lot of his teammates, he didn't graduate high school early to join the team in January.
"He just showed up in the summer time and the summer he had was elite. What he was able to do physically in the summer time was really impressive as a freshman and what he's able to do so far in practice is impressive."
Gray was Beamer's highest-rated prospect in South Carolina's 2026 signing class, before Julian Walker flipped from Michigan on early signing day and took that top spot. Gray is the No. 2 interior offensive line recruit nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite.
Gray committed on Aug. 22, 2025, with his other final options LSU, Ohio State, Tennessee and Clemson. Ten offensive linemen transferred after last season and 10 transferred in, with Gray one of five freshmen in the room.
All five starting spots are up for grabs. Gray, who is 6-foot-3, 302 pounds, was recruited as an interior player but he's also played tackle. Two-year starting left tackle Josiah Thompson is out for the season with a leg injury and transfer Jacarrius Peak, who was his projected replacement, is recovering from a knee injury.
"It's four days in, there's a lot of football left and he's got a long ways to go but the initial impressions are really good," Beamer said of Gray. "He's got his stuff together, and is an impressive guy on and off the field."
The day before, Beamer pulled Gray aside in practice and said he knows they're throwing a lot at him, making sure Gray knew to speak up if it got to be too much. Gray assured Beamer he could handle it.
“That's just who he is," Beamer said. "He's the same person every day, and he's not on this emotional roller coaster. Just goes about his business and he's going to be a really, really, really, really, good player here."
Peak's injury timeline is the same, according to Beamer, which also goes for edge rusher Dylan Stewart, who is recovering from a back injury. Stewart was at practice but not in uniform on Aug. 7 and 8, but Peak wasn't visible during the portion open to media.
"Yeah, they're at practice and they're doing different parts of what they're able to, throughout the day," Beamer said when asked if they are practicing. "As far as the timeline, we'll go on what the doctors tell us like I've said for the last month. They're right on track and progressing nicely."
The Gamecocks are 25 days out from the season opener on Sept. 5 (12:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network) against Kent State in Williams-Brice Stadium. They've started practicing in pads, which most players who spoke to media agreed increased the level of competitiveness in preseason camp.
"They like to practice," Beamer said of what he's learned watching his team in pads. "You'd rather have to tell them 'woah' than 'pick it up', and we don't have to tell them to pick it up. You can't say you're physical and tough and not practice that way."
LaNorris Sellers is in his third year as starting quarterback but has had a different backup each season. This year, it's likely sophomore Cutter Woods, who was the unofficial third-string last year, as Luke Doty went in for Sellers when he was injured against Vanderbilt.
Last year in limited snaps, Woods was 8-of-11 for 69 yards and one interception and 18 rushing yards on three carries.
"Yeah, I love where Cutter is," Beamer said. "Last season, he came in at the end of the Oklahoma game, and one of the very first throws, he rips a ball across the field ... between the corner and safety and you're like, 'Gee as a freshman, he made that play.'"
Based on comments from new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles and Beamer, it seems like Woods has been the No. 2 quarterback. But with no spring game, there wasn't a chance to see how he played.
"You talk about a guy that gets mental reps in practice and utilizes every opportunity to get better, that's what Cutter does," Beamer said. "So Cutter is a really, really good football player. Not just me, but our entire team feels a ton of confidence in him."
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at [email protected]. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky@bylulukesin.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: The South Carolina football freshman Shane Beamer couldn't stop talking about
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"He's pretty impressive, he really is," Beamer said Aug. 11, drawing attention to the fact that unlike a lot of his teammates, he didn't graduate high school early to join the team in January.
"He just showed up in the summer time and the summer he had was elite. What he was able to do physically in the summer time was really impressive as a freshman and what he's able to do so far in practice is impressive."
Gray was Beamer's highest-rated prospect in South Carolina's 2026 signing class, before Julian Walker flipped from Michigan on early signing day and took that top spot. Gray is the No. 2 interior offensive line recruit nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite.
Gray committed on Aug. 22, 2025, with his other final options LSU, Ohio State, Tennessee and Clemson. Ten offensive linemen transferred after last season and 10 transferred in, with Gray one of five freshmen in the room.
All five starting spots are up for grabs. Gray, who is 6-foot-3, 302 pounds, was recruited as an interior player but he's also played tackle. Two-year starting left tackle Josiah Thompson is out for the season with a leg injury and transfer Jacarrius Peak, who was his projected replacement, is recovering from a knee injury.
"It's four days in, there's a lot of football left and he's got a long ways to go but the initial impressions are really good," Beamer said of Gray. "He's got his stuff together, and is an impressive guy on and off the field."
The day before, Beamer pulled Gray aside in practice and said he knows they're throwing a lot at him, making sure Gray knew to speak up if it got to be too much. Gray assured Beamer he could handle it.
“That's just who he is," Beamer said. "He's the same person every day, and he's not on this emotional roller coaster. Just goes about his business and he's going to be a really, really, really, really, good player here."
South Carolina football injury updates
Peak's injury timeline is the same, according to Beamer, which also goes for edge rusher Dylan Stewart, who is recovering from a back injury. Stewart was at practice but not in uniform on Aug. 7 and 8, but Peak wasn't visible during the portion open to media.
"Yeah, they're at practice and they're doing different parts of what they're able to, throughout the day," Beamer said when asked if they are practicing. "As far as the timeline, we'll go on what the doctors tell us like I've said for the last month. They're right on track and progressing nicely."
South Carolina football now in pads
The Gamecocks are 25 days out from the season opener on Sept. 5 (12:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network) against Kent State in Williams-Brice Stadium. They've started practicing in pads, which most players who spoke to media agreed increased the level of competitiveness in preseason camp.
"They like to practice," Beamer said of what he's learned watching his team in pads. "You'd rather have to tell them 'woah' than 'pick it up', and we don't have to tell them to pick it up. You can't say you're physical and tough and not practice that way."
Cutter Woods impresses Shane Beamer behind LaNorris Sellers
LaNorris Sellers is in his third year as starting quarterback but has had a different backup each season. This year, it's likely sophomore Cutter Woods, who was the unofficial third-string last year, as Luke Doty went in for Sellers when he was injured against Vanderbilt.
Last year in limited snaps, Woods was 8-of-11 for 69 yards and one interception and 18 rushing yards on three carries.
"Yeah, I love where Cutter is," Beamer said. "Last season, he came in at the end of the Oklahoma game, and one of the very first throws, he rips a ball across the field ... between the corner and safety and you're like, 'Gee as a freshman, he made that play.'"
Based on comments from new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles and Beamer, it seems like Woods has been the No. 2 quarterback. But with no spring game, there wasn't a chance to see how he played.
"You talk about a guy that gets mental reps in practice and utilizes every opportunity to get better, that's what Cutter does," Beamer said. "So Cutter is a really, really good football player. Not just me, but our entire team feels a ton of confidence in him."
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at [email protected]. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky@bylulukesin.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: The South Carolina football freshman Shane Beamer couldn't stop talking about
Continue reading...
