Why Shane Beamer is ‘extremely confident’ in South Carolina football entering 2024

South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer met with members of local media Thursday at his annual Birdies with Beamer golf tournament.

He talked about how excited he is for the 2024 season, which begins Aug. 31 with Old Dominion visiting Williams-Brice Stadium . Players report to camp Aug. 1 and begin practices the next day. Everyone is healthy and “good to go”, Beamer said, except DB Zahbari Sandy, who suffered an ACL injury during the spring.

Here are the highlights from the rest of Beamer’s press conference:

Beamer’s message to the fan base ahead of Year 4

Legendary Alabama coach Nick Saban said at SEC Media Days in Dallas last week that South Carolina has the potential to have a successful season in 2024, as the program wasn’t “that far off last year.”

After solid seasons in 2021 and 2022 then a disappointing dip in 2023, Beamer agrees with Saban and wants Gamecock fans to know. When Beamer says he’s excited about this year’s football team, he insists it’s not “coach speak.” It’s genuine enthusiasm.

“It’s a thin line,” Beamer said. “And you look at every game in this league, we’re the toughest conference in America.”

The key to South Carolina’s improvement over last season is to win fourth quarters. To make plays at the end of games. Beamer feels he and his staff have recruited players who’ll do just that.

Meanwhile, South Carolina’s returning players are eager to rid their mouths of last season’s bitter taste.

“They’re hungry,” Beamer said. “They were not happy with last season. And we’ve got a core group of older players, leaders, that came back for another season... It wasn’t (because) they have something to prove. I think they realize how close we are.”

Depth on the offensive line

After South Carolina’s offensive line suffered double-digit injuries last season , Beamer feels better about its depth in 2024. But he’s not void of concerns.

“I don’t think you ever feel like it’s enough,” he said, “particularly at that position.”

Last season was essentially worst-case scenario, though Beamer didn’t want to call it that. To have that many injuries within one position group seemed unfair. Cason Henry, USC’s starting right tackle, was injured in Game 1. Gamecocks starting left tackle Jaylen Nichols was injured during the spring game and never saw the field in 2023.

But those injuries put freshmen like Tree Babalade and Trovon Baugh in position to gain valuable experience. Now they’re a year older, stronger and healthier along with the rest of South Carolina’s returners. Plus there’s the addition of highly touted freshmen Blake Franks, Kam Pringle and Josiah Thompson and transfers Kamaar Bell (Florida Atlantic), Aaryn Parks (Oklahoma) and Torricelli Simpkins III (North Carolina Central). The group as a whole seems to have a lot of position flexibility among center, guard and tackle, Beamer said.

Beamer and offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley’s focus next month will be “figuring out who are our top guys that we can go win SEC football games with.”

Excitement building

Asked how he feels now compared to this time last year, in 2022 and in 2021, Beamer expressed confidence. But he also acknowledged that every year is different and anything can happen.

In this modern age of college football, rosters turn over every year as opposed to every four. USC lost 28 lettermen this offseason, including 10 starters, and added over 20 players via the transfer portal, according to the media guide. While Beamer feels good about the personnel he’s got, his three years of leading South Carolina football have taught him about the importance of flexibility and adaptability.

“I don’t think you’re ever comfortable,” Beamer said. “I don’t want to be. You got to be uncomfortable in order to grow. Don’t ever want to get comfortable. But I will say this, I’m extremely confident.”

Beamer’s previous three seasons at the helm have yielded mixed results . In 2021, USC went 7-6 with a Duke’s Mayo Bowl victory. In 2022, 8-5 — including back-to-back upset wins over then-No. 5 Tennessee and then-No. 7 Clemson — with a trip to the Taxslayer Gator Bowl. In 2023 the Gamecocks struggled their way to 5-7 with no postseason appearance and a 3-5 conference record.

But Beamer has learned from each campaign, he said. Even from January to the end of July. And he’s eager to see what this season has in store.

“I’ve never, ever, ever been more excited about practice starting next week than what I am right now,” Beamer said. “I do know that for sure.”