COLOMBIA – Shane Beamer has announced seven members of its coaching staff, but is still looking for the right person to lead the defense of South Carolina.
Although the position of defensive coordinator is not the only position to be filled, it will certainly attract more attention.
“We have a few more signings out there, three more signings in the field, then a strength coach and then the entire support team around these guys as well. Satisfied with the progress we are making there, “said the new South Carolina coach.” Certainly, have an idea of the direction that these signings will take, one way or another.
Beamer said the coaches’ carousel changes every day, pointing out that bowling games and the end of the regular NFL season could change a few things. He mentioned that certain situations he did not expect could come into play, including Auburn firing head coach Gus Malzahn and hiring Bryan Harsin of Boise State, which apparently frees Auburn’s defensive coordinator Kevin Steele to look for a job. Steele was the defensive coordinator for Clemson for 2009-11.
Even so, Beamer still has his group of candidates, several of whom sought him out, and he has a deadline to finalize them.
“I want to finish this sooner or later. We still have a few weeks until the players return to Columbia, when we will have to put all this in place, and I know we will have everything ready by then, ”he said. “I have in mind the guys I want to talk to, who I’ve been talking to and who I’m going to continue with. The main guys I’m interested in talking to haven’t really changed since day 1. ”
The defensive coordinator’s role will be crucial after Will Muschamp’s teams have regressed after their first two seasons. The Gamecocks finished eighth in the SEC in full defense in 2016, Muschamp’s first season. The following year, the USC jumped to fifth place. Since then, 11º, 10º and 10º.
Like Muschamp in 2016, Beamer won’t have much to depend on in his first defense. Top tackler Ernest Jones went to the NFL and joined cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Israel Mukuamu. Several other members of the secondary school reached the transfer portal.
Still, he mentioned that he wants someone with the ability to manage a scheme with multiple appearances, and someone who is good at correcting the lapses that affected Muschamp’s defenses.
“It has to be great on fundamentals,” said Beamer. “They must be great defenders and limit big moves.”
Beamer did not clarify the situation of three coaches who were not mentioned as hired on Sunday. So it remains to be seen whether Bobby Bentley, Joe Cox and strength coach Paul Jackson will have new roles at USC.
Beamer said it doesn’t matter who he hires if he doesn’t have the players on the list, and that’s the most important thing to do after the coaching staff is full.
Muse update
Tight end Nick Muse, who became the Gamecocks’ favorite receiver when Luke Doty took over as quarterback, said he would return if Bentley was kept as a tight end coach.
New tight end coach Erik Kimrey said he spoke to Muse on Sunday and is confident that Muse will return in 2021.
Follow David Cloninger on Twitter @DCPandC.