Following a disappointing 2025 season, the South Carolina Gamecock football team got back in the lab this spring to work on some improvements.

The Gamecocks got to practice 15 times over the course of six weeks. The team used this time to work through some kinks, get new faces acquainted and lay the foundation for this upcoming season. 

“I like where we are. Got a lot of work to do, but feel like we made a lot of progress from the start of spring practice in March to now,” head coach Shane Beamer said. “I like this team, the work ethic, the maturity, the intentionality about everything that they’re doing.”

South Carolina was able to check off a few tasks in the spring. 

The first was getting all the new coaches on board and acclimated to the team’s system. South Carolina is on its fourth offensive coordinator after bringing in Kendal Briles to replace Mike Shula.

Other new additions to the coaching staff include: offensive line coach Randy Clements, running backs coach Stan Drayton and defensive end/outside linebackers coach Dion Barnes. 

“A goal for me was just those guys acclimating to how we do things, and in particular on offense, installing a new system,” Beamer said. “I think we hit on that and like the work that we got done from an installation standpoint.”

Beamer and the team were eager to get a look at the new offense. Briles had success at TCU, as the offense ranked near the top of the country in many statistical categories. 

From what Beamer saw and the players told him, the new system has the potential to transform the Gamecocks' offense. 

Last season, the squad ranked near the bottom of the SEC in offense. The Gamecocks often struggled to sustain drives or put any points on the board, despite having plenty of talent. The offensive struggles were a big reason why last season went so wrong. 

Quarterback LaNorris Sellers had a good spring getting used to the Briles system, Beamer said. Sellers is going into his fourth year on the team and has the potential to boost his NFL stock with a good season. 

“Was really pleased with the spring LaNorris had,” Beamer said.  “I think he’s in a good place. He’s playing with a lot of confidence right now. Leadership-wise, same thing. I think he’s been really good there.”

Returning running back Matt Fuller was named Offensive Player of the Spring for the work he put in. He earned the award not just for his skills running the ball, but for his improvement in pass protection as well. 

“Matt’s always been a really talented guy,” Beamer said. “I believe that Stan Drayton has come in and done a phenomenal job with him, just the details, the understanding, the pass protection. There were a lot of plays that we had in the passing game this spring that were a reflection of Matt and a blitz pickup.”

On the defensive side of the ball, the team is working through a few major injuries. 

Star edge rusher Dylan Stewart missed all of spring practice, recovering from a back injury he suffered last season. Defensive back Judge Collier missed time after getting tangled up with Nyck Harbor. Other players also missed a few practices or were limited participants. 

Another key storyline of the spring was the kicking battle. The team is looking to replace William Joyce, who went 12-15 on field goal tries last season. 

So far, the battle is between returner Max Kelley and Texas Tech transfer Upton Bellenfant. The team did its best to get a good look at both guys in pressure situations, but Beamer admits they didn’t as often as he’d have liked. 

“We got a lot of kicks in practice, don’t get me wrong,” Beamer said. “We try and create a lot of situations within a two-minute drive, or situational football, where maybe it ends in a pressure kick, and a lot of the days that we had those planned didn’t quite end with a pressure kick for whatever reason. Maybe the offense scored a touchdown, or maybe the defense kept them out of field goal range.”

Whatever the reason, the battle will continue into the summer. Beamer said he doesn’t see the team adding anyone else to the room but left the option on the table, if needed. 

“I really like where we are right now. Upton and Max are really out there battling it out and doing a nice job,” Beamer said. “I walked out of spring feeling confident about the kicking position. But again, like all positions, if there’s ever an opportunity to add somebody to the program that you feel like can make the team better, I’m never going to close the door on that.”

South Carolina will now transition to its summer period. This is an important recruiting window for the team, and the rest of the incoming freshman class arrives on campus. 

The 2026 Gamecock football season is set to begin Sept. 5 at home against Kent State.