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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – After a rough 4-8 season, the South Carolina Gamecocks are not hiding from the reset. Players returned Tuesday ahead of preseason practice, and sixth-year head coach Shane Beamer says this team feels different: older, more experienced, and more invested in what comes next.
For the Gamecocks, an older group matters immensely for a program that went from 5-7 in 2023 to 9-4 in 2024, only to fall back to 4-8 last season and finish just 1-7 in SEC play.
Beamer’s message this offseason has centered on investment.
“Your investment level equals your expectation level, and we have a group of guys that went through some really really hard stuff in 2025, and were better because of what we went through.” said Beamer.
He says the players who chose to stay in Columbia rather than enter the transfer portal or pursue the NFL. showed the kind of commitment he wants to build around. And now, he wants that commitment to show up late in games.
“In 2024, we were a really good fourth-quarter team. And in 2025, we weren’t,” said Beamer
South Carolina is putting more emphasis on finishing in the fourth quarter, even changing parts of its offseason training to push players beyond a predetermined stopping point.
Beamer says the mindset is essentially: let’s empty the tank.
The same energy will be tested on offense, where new coordinator Kendal Briles brings a completely different system and terminology, as Beamer notes it’ll be a learning curve for him as well.
The Gamecocks will have to establish a more consistent run game and improve up front on the offensive line, while continuing to build around quarterback LaNorris Sellers.
Sellers enters his fourth year in the program, and play again with his younger brother, WR Jayden Sellers, alongside him.
Beamer believes Sellers doesn’t need to suddenly become the loudest player in the room to lead. He wants Sellers competitiveness to naturally take another step. He knows a QB capable of leading South Carolina is defined by last year’s 4-8 record.
Defensively, the Gamecocks face another challenge after losing four of their top five defensive tackles from last season to NFL rosters.
Beamer believes defensive coordinator Clayton White doesn’t get enough national credit, and with more bodies available up front, South Carolina could rotate its defensive line more than it has in previous seasons.
There aren’t any major injury updates. Dylan Stewart and Peyton Williams are not expected to practice tomorrow, while Josiah Thompson and Jackson Repp are expected to miss the entire season.
Still, the focus is forward. Beamer is also embracing the NCAA’s new five-game redshirt rule, saying if a young player can help South Carolina win an SEC football game and is ready to play, there’s no reason to hold him back.
The Gamecocks begin preseason practice tomorrow morning, with their first test coming September 5 at home against Kent State at 12:45 pm.
The game will also mark South Carolina’s return to a newly renovated Williams-Brice Stadium, the first of three straight home games to open the season.
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