COLOMBIA – The first three months were a lot of conversation. Shane Beamer has preached promise, hope and enthusiasm for South Carolina football since he was hired.
There will be many more conversations until September, when the season begins. But as of March 20, there is something tangible to see about what Gamecocks will look like in 2021.
“Super excited to start spring training,” said Beamer. “We are a different football team than we were when I was hired in December. We are more ahead in the game than we would be in normal years. “
The new Gamecocks coach will preside over a spring session covering 14 practices, including the Garnet & Black Spring Game on April 24. There are a lot of new faces and a lot of exits from the last time the USC entered the field, but after a season of two wins and just six wins in the past two seasons, how can there be no renewed hope?
From the point of view of the direct squad, it is like last year: not much is known. Kevin Harris’s rise as a running back star last season certainly puts him in the spotlight in early spring, and the return of sack leader JJ Enagbare should anchor the defense.
The rest? There are questions for the defender, the receiver, the linebacker and the defender. And at this point, despite Beamer doing wonders with the transfer portal for his autograph class, little depth.
“Ideally, we would love to stay healthy throughout this spring. I think the most important thing is from a general point of view, to learn the mentality, the temperament and the physicality that we want to play with every time we enter the field ”, he said. “We need to develop depth.”
The relaxed rules of the NCAA during the pandemic allowed for some very brief field exercises (no cushions) and position meetings, but this will be the first time that Gamecocks have met as a team on the field. This was partly intentional.
Beamer had to hire a new team, including strength coach Luke Day. He pushed the ball back so that Day could place his team and start training with the team.
“I loved what our guys were able to do in the weight room,” said Beamer. “We needed this and I am very grateful for that.”
The camaraderie and joy were solid, but that is only part of it. Beamer will discover from March 20 what he needs in terms of players.
“There are great people on this program, we have a very good group of guys on this football team, guys who were already here and guys that we’ve added since I was hired in December,” he said. “We have a strong work ethic here and a strong desire to succeed.”
Follow David Cloninger on Twitter @DCPandC.