New Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer faces significant rebuild in Columbia

South Carolina’s football glory years weren’t that long ago, but it seems like forever.

It’s almost difficult to fathom that the Gamecocks won 11 games in three consecutive seasons from 2010-12.

But then a perfect storm of bad luck and ineptitude rained down on Columbia.

Coach Steve Spurrier lost interest. Texas A&M replaced Arkansas as the annual west division opponent. Will Muschamp, who could not win at Florida, took over as coach in 2016, and a revolving door of starting quarterbacks eventually followed.

That led to consecutive eight-loss seasons in 2019 and 2020, which resulted in Muschamp’s ouster. He’s replaced by Shane Beamer, the son of famed Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer.

Sons of famous coaches sometimes work out.

Skip Holtz has been successful. Terry Bowden and Tommy Bowden had good years.

Others, like Derek Dooley and Mike Shula, failed spectacularly as head coaches.

Boosting South Carolina will require Beamer to add teeth to a toothless passing game and iron to an anemic defense.

Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

Muschamp was 28-30 in five seasons as the head coach of the Gamecocks.

Neither will be easy.

The Gamecocks have a strong running game with 1,000-yard rusher Kevin Harris returning, but their passing game ranked 13th in the SEC last year. That was with accomplished receiver Shi Smith on board. Smith exited for the NFL, which leaves the Gamecocks woefully unproved at receiver.

Their hopes for an improved passing game rest heavily on first-year starting quarterback Luke Doty and 6-foot-7, 245-pound receiver E.J. Jenkins, a transfer from FCS St. Francis (Pa.), where he caught 39 passes for 779 yards in 2019. St. Francis did not play last season.

The Gamecocks’ defense, which last season allowed 31 points or more in seven games, is counting heavily on transfers.

Defensive end Jordan Strachan led the nation with 10.5 sacks at Georgia State. Whether he can be as productive in the SEC is a major concern.

The same goes for Kansas transfer Karon Prunty, who was named to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team as a defensive back.

The Gamecocks are also hoping for break-out years from former five-star defensive line recruits Zacch Pickens and Jordan Burch as well as another strong showing from reliable edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare.

If all that happens, the Gamecocks could make a run at bowl eligibility.

If not, Dooley and Shula soon might be getting company.

South Carolina Gamecocks

• Head coach: Shane Beamer
• 2020 record: 2-8
• Postseason result: None

Returning starters: 6 Offense, 7 Defense

Area of strength: The Gamecocks running game is strong. Kevin Harris is back after gaining 1,138 yards and leading the SEC in rushing yards per game. MarShawn Lloyd, who some in Columbia rate better than Harris, is back from an ACL tear. Quarterback Luke Doty is a rushing threat, too. They’re all running behind a line that returns four starters.

Area of concern: Pick one. Frankly, the receivers aren’t very good. The most productive returning receiver, Jalen Brooks, had 11 catches in 2020. As worrisome as the receivers are, the secondary could be worse. Projected starters John Dixon, Jammie Robinson and Shilo Sanders all left via the transfer portal. Senior safety R.J. Roderick, who has been credited with three broken-up passes in three seasons, is the only returning starter. Last season, he did manage interceptions against College of Charleston and Vanderbilt.

Significant losses: CB Jaycee Horn (NFL first-round draft pick); LB Ernest Jones (NFL third-round draft pick); WR Shi Smith (NFL sixth-round draft pick); CB Israel Mukuamu (NFL sixth-round draft pick); DB John Dixon (transferred to Penn State), DB Jammie Robinson (transferred to Florida State); DB Shilo Sanders (transferred to Jackson State).

Key additions: Coach Shane Beamer; WR E.J. Jenkins (transfer from St. Francis); DE Jordan Strachan (transfer from Georgia State); Karon Prunty (transfer from Kansas).

Top three players

• MarShawn Lloyd, RB: The nation’s fifth-rated running back in the 2020 recruiting class, Lloyd sat out last season with a knee injury. Now recovered, he could take the starting job away from last year’s SEC rushing leader.
• Kevin Harris, RB: Despite getting little to no help from a  porous passing game, Harris rushed for 1,138 yards in 2020. He could be even more productive if opponents are forced to at least respect a passing threat. Alas, that may be too much to hope for from the Gamecocks.
• Jordan Burch, DE: South Carolina’s highest-rated recruit since Jadeveon Clowney in 2011, the 2020 five-star prospect posted only 19 tackles as a true freshman. However, he’s projected to have a break-out year this season.

2021 schedule

• Sept. 4 vs. Eastern Illinois
• Sept. 11 at Eastern Carolina
• Sept. 18 at Georgia
• Sept. 25 vs. Kentucky
• Oct. 2 vs. Troy
• Oct. 9 at Tennessee
• Oct. 16 vs. Vanderbilt
• Oct. 23 AT TEXAS A&M
• Nov. 6 vs. Florida
• Nov. 13 at Missouri
• Nov. 20 vs. Auburn
• Nov. 27 at Clemson

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