Coach Beamer previews Gamecocks before the start of pre-season camp
August 03, 2023 / VIDEO COURTESY OF USC MEDIA OUTLET
The Gamecocks opened the festivities with Thursday’s on-campus media day, including a podium session with head coach Shane Beamer. Here are news and notes Beamer’s address on Thursday and ahead of South Carolina’s first official practice of the preseason on Friday morning:
Beamer identified a few positions as ones where he’s curious to see who starts or is part of the rotation. Those were: how the offensive line shakes out, “What does it look like from left to right?” He said USC is going to play more than five at O-line and need to identify who the sixth, seventh, and eighth players are. ... He said he wants to see how the defensive end shapes up, saying senior Tyreek Johnson “had an awesome summer” and that senior Jordan Strachan and transfer Jatius Geer are in line to be big pieces of the rotation. Says there’s more depth at linebacker than USC has had. Beamer asked, who’s the third cornerback after presumed starters Marcellas Dial and O’Donnell Fortune? Those two are poised to start after Darius Rush and Cam Smith left for the NFL. Beamer also said he wants to see what the wide receiver rotation looks like. “We’re not going to play the same three the entire game?” Gamecocks will hope to identify six main players for the position.
Beamer said that the Gamecocks will rely on a number of true freshmen right away in 2023, saying: “We’re going to have to rely on freshmen earlier than in any time that I can remember. ... We know true freshmen are going to have to factor in right now in Game 1.” ▪ Some players will be limited because of injury when practice starts Friday. “Nothing that will keep anyone out long term.” Defenders Mo Kaba and Strachan are coming off of torn ACLs from the 2022 season, while offensive lineman Jaylen Nichols remains out after a spring game leg injury, with Beamer said coaches are optimistic he returns later in the season. Running back Kamron Sandlin “will be a little limited,” though Beamer didn’t specify why.
Beamer touted the work of the strength staff, nutritionists, etc. Said the average squat gain per player this year was 50 pounds.
On the new faces at running back, Beamer said he: Impressed with transfer Mario Anderson; said freshman DJay Braswell is “probably faster” than expected; Sandlin will begin at running back, “did a little bit of everything in high school” and could play tight end at some point in his career.
Beamer said Dakereon Joyner is a leader, perhaps the leader, of the football team. Beamer said he’s excited to see Joyner play running back this season.
Beamer said there’s “great excitement” about South Carolina’s 2024 recruiting class and hopefully more good news to come. USC added a commitment Tuesday from five-star prospect Dylan Stewart. “It’s a long time until signing day but I like where we are.”
Some other key comments from Beamer:
August 03, 2023 / VIDEO COURTESY OF USC MEDIA OUTLET
The Gamecocks opened the festivities with Thursday’s on-campus media day, including a podium session with head coach Shane Beamer. Here are news and notes Beamer’s address on Thursday and ahead of South Carolina’s first official practice of the preseason on Friday morning:
Beamer identified a few positions as ones where he’s curious to see who starts or is part of the rotation. Those were: how the offensive line shakes out, “What does it look like from left to right?” He said USC is going to play more than five at O-line and need to identify who the sixth, seventh, and eighth players are. ... He said he wants to see how the defensive end shapes up, saying senior Tyreek Johnson “had an awesome summer” and that senior Jordan Strachan and transfer Jatius Geer are in line to be big pieces of the rotation. Says there’s more depth at linebacker than USC has had. Beamer asked, who’s the third cornerback after presumed starters Marcellas Dial and O’Donnell Fortune? Those two are poised to start after Darius Rush and Cam Smith left for the NFL. Beamer also said he wants to see what the wide receiver rotation looks like. “We’re not going to play the same three the entire game?” Gamecocks will hope to identify six main players for the position.
Beamer said that the Gamecocks will rely on a number of true freshmen right away in 2023, saying: “We’re going to have to rely on freshmen earlier than in any time that I can remember. ... We know true freshmen are going to have to factor in right now in Game 1.” ▪ Some players will be limited because of injury when practice starts Friday. “Nothing that will keep anyone out long term.” Defenders Mo Kaba and Strachan are coming off of torn ACLs from the 2022 season, while offensive lineman Jaylen Nichols remains out after a spring game leg injury, with Beamer said coaches are optimistic he returns later in the season. Running back Kamron Sandlin “will be a little limited,” though Beamer didn’t specify why.
Beamer touted the work of the strength staff, nutritionists, etc. Said the average squat gain per player this year was 50 pounds.
On the new faces at running back, Beamer said he: Impressed with transfer Mario Anderson; said freshman DJay Braswell is “probably faster” than expected; Sandlin will begin at running back, “did a little bit of everything in high school” and could play tight end at some point in his career.
Beamer said Dakereon Joyner is a leader, perhaps the leader, of the football team. Beamer said he’s excited to see Joyner play running back this season.
Beamer said there’s “great excitement” about South Carolina’s 2024 recruiting class and hopefully more good news to come. USC added a commitment Tuesday from five-star prospect Dylan Stewart. “It’s a long time until signing day but I like where we are.”
Some other key comments from Beamer:
- Great offseason, with very few accountability issues, the fewest they’ve had since he’s been in Columbia.
- They got better as a football team in the offseason, thanks to the strength and conditioning program, and also from a nutrition standpoint.
- The team got better, stronger, and faster in the offseason, the average squat on the team went up 50 pounds per player, 31 players hit new top speeds, average bench went up 24 pounds per player, can’t be more excited about what his players did.
- Couldn’t be more excited about where they are as a team, in recruiting, and for being in the SEC where others are trying to get it, don’t take that for granted.
- Going to have more freshmen playing earlier than anytime he can remember, which isn’t all bad because they are talented.
- No new names to add to the injured list regarding players who will be brought along slowly at the start of practice, everyone will be there in the morning.
- His hope is to have Jaylen Nichols back by the end of the season and he’s optimistic that can happen, he’s in a good frame of mind and he’s working hard, all three transfer OL will have a chance to play, Gargiulo is set to be a starter.
- Mario Anderson has looked good and can help them at running back, Braswell is faster than he thought when he recruited him, Sandlin will work at running back as well, and could still end up at tight end later in his career.
- The offensive line, and defensive end are positions where starting battles will be staged in the fall. Wants to have eight ready on the OL. Needs to develop a 3rd corner, and determine the receiver rotation.
