South Carolina’s Garnet and Black Spring Game was played on Saturday night. The game concluded Spring practice for the Gamecocks but left coaches and fans with questions. Additionally, the transfer portal is open until April 30. Many coaching staffs around the country are using this Spring window to advise players who will not likely see the field to move on to another school, and Shane Beamer’s group is no different.
The concept of “family” is a foundational principle for Beamer and his program at Columbia. The staff puts a high emphasis on loving one another above all else. To love someone is to do what is best for them, no matter the consequences. Telling a player his future is brighter elsewhere sounds like a harsh conversation, but instead, it is a mutually beneficial opportunity. Redshirt junior offensive lineman Sidney Fugar entered the portal on Wednesday. His departure shines light on the questions at offensive line. A starting quarterback has yet to be named, and wide receiver is still a position of need moving forward.
Trenches
The battle in the trenches was one-sided in favor of the defense on Saturday night during the Spring Game. Gamecock pass rushers looked good, putting pressure on quarterbacks. This encourages fans looking to see if the defensive line could get a push. However, the Gamecock on-Gamecock nature of the Spring Game means success for one side is a failure for the other. The offensive line did not look much improved from 2023. However, there are many new faces and guys still working back from injury. Still, Beamer admitted in his post-game media availability that the O-line is not where he wants it to be.
Fugar’s departure via the portal should be encouraging to Carolina fans. While there are still questions along the Gamecock offensive line coming out of Spring, losing Fugar means the competition is ramping up. He started four games in 2023 after transferring in from Western Illinois last off-season. His exit should be viewed as coaches letting him know it wasn’t working out for him in Columbia due to other players stepping up. Fugar was in the two-deep during Spring, but other tackles have taken a step forward. That would have landed him in a third-string role come September.
Sold on Sellers
While Beamer and his staff have not officially named a starting quarterback, it is still our position that LaNorris Sellers has the job secured. Robby Ashford will contribute and provide quality depth and a similar skill set to Sellers. However, Sellers’ natural ability and familiarity with the system work in his favor. This is not to say that Ashford won’t ever see the field. Dowell Loggains will likely attempt to get Ashford on the field and utilize his athleticism in some fashion. Sellers’ upside is too high to keep him out of the starting role.
Although the silence has not hidden the eventual crowning of Sellers as the starter, the lack of downfield passing during the Spring Game is worth noting. There were undoubtedly protection issues up front, but it appeared that Loggains avoided even calling 25-plus yard passing plays. Sellers used his feet and scrambled for first downs and one touchdown on broken pocket plays. The running game looked promising with transfers Jawarn Howell and Oscar Adaway. Sellers and Ashford found the backs and tight ends in the short passing game and hit receivers on some intermediate-level passes over the middle of the field. This is not a symptom of the quarterbacks’ inability to throw it deep but rather an indicator of the style of offense the Gamecocks will run in 2024.
A New Crew
The receiving corp comprises new faces in transfers and true freshmen. Even the returning players are almost exclusively sophomores and saw little or no time in their freshman campaigns. So, the biggest question for Gamecock Football coming out of the Spring is, “Who is going to make plays in the passing game?” The running backs and tight ends proved capable of moving the sticks in the passing game. Fans should be content with dinking and dunking to the end zone of the Loggains offense and can use that method to score. However, backlash over a lack of explosive plays was frequent among fans. The receiver room will continue to take shape as the Gamecocks move towards Game 1 on August 31.
Nyck Harbor’s size is going to be very important. While his focus may be on the Olympics right now, his contributions on the outside will be relied on. Beamer and company are also in search of a transfer receiver or two. Remember that the portal closes for players to enter on April 30, but teams can take players after that date. So, it’s not set in stone that if the Gamecocks don’t land more size for the receiver room by Tuesday, all hope is lost. There is plenty of speed in the group. New wide receivers coach Mike Furrey needs to develop the young receivers. His ability to prepare them is yet to be seen, as this is his first season in Columbia.
Coming Up
The portal will help answer some questions soon. Others will remain throughout the Summer until this team takes the field in Williams-Brice Stadium again on August 31. After the roster is safe from portal exits, we will examine each position group. Next week, we’ll have our post-spring record prediction and schedule breakdown.
