Shane Beamer I could almost put up a defense with everyone who left or arrived at the South Carolina Gamecocks via the NCAA transfer portal.
Defensive lineman Makius Scott transferred from South Carolina on December 4, the day before Beamer agreed to take over as Gamecocks coach. Scott has already landed at Georgia Tech.
Two other defensive players have left since Beamer’s arrival. Keir Thomas transferred to the state of Florida and Joseph Anderson ended up in Purdue.
Addition of Nebraska defensive tackle in South Carolina Jahkeem Green. Linebackers Darryl Williams and Jordan Strachan were transferred from Delaware and the state of Georgia, respectively.
Jammie Robinson (State of Florida), John Dixon (Penn State) and Shilo Sanders (Jackson State) all started from South Carolina high school. So far, David Spaulding (Georgia Southern) is the only addition.
“It’s so new for everyone,” said Beamer. “It was from the situation last year until now. It’s constant. It’s South Carolina. It’s Oklahoma. I’m constantly on the phone. You want the boys to have the opportunity to go to places that give them the best opportunities for success, on and off the field.
“We always want to help young people do this, but there are just too many moving parts that all schools are dealing with.”
In the attack, the new South Carolina team lost three players to the portal: Quarterback Ryan Hilinski (Northwestern), running back Deshaun Fenwick (Oregon State) and tight end Keshawn Toney (Chattanooga).
Wide receiver Georgia Tech Ahmarean Brown he is the only player on that side of the ball who came to South Carolina during the Beamer era, although others may be on the way soon.
“There are certainly some downsides to that,” said Beamer. “There are definitely some positives. We benefit from that, let’s be realistic, but we were also affected by it on the other side, especially when the guys are also leaving. You always want to be involved with your players and their lives and know what is happening. You can’t just guess – it was always like that, but probably more now than ever.
“You have to be really in tune with your players’ lives, because there is a lot going on now that affects them.”