Who is coming and going: Looking ahead at South Carolina roster situation
New South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer takes over in a tricky spot. The Gamecocks’ roster was ranked among the top 25 most talented in the country by 247Sports, but they’re coming off consecutive eight-loss seasons, and with just a few days until the early signing period begins, the recruiting class of 2021 is looking pretty thin, ranked 90th nationally and last in the SEC.
And of course, the NCAA decided that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this past season won’t count against any players’ eligibility, giving seniors a free pass to return. Not every veteran will take advantage of that opportunity, though, and several USC underclassmen have already declared for the NFL Draft, not to mention players who might decide to transfer ahead of the NCAA’s expected ruling allowing a one-time immediate eligibility waiver.
All in all, Beamer will have his work cut out for him. Managing the comings and goings of a college football roster is a daunting task at the best of times, and Beamer is taking charge in decidedly not great times.
To keep track of it all, we’ve broken down the roster situation at the moment for Beamer heading into 2021, focusing on scholarship players plus a few notable walk-ons.
At the moment, the Gamecocks have 61 scholarship players from the 2020 roster who are not seniors and have not announced any intent to transfer. There are a dozen players, meanwhile, who either opted out before the season or are seniors who could decide to move on. Add those to the 10 commits currently in the class of 2021, and you’re at 83 scholarships potentially accounted for. But that could change.
Not coming back, or likely not coming back
Declared for the NFL Draft
Israel Mukuamu — junior cornerback
Jaycee Horn — junior cornerback
Ernest Jones — junior linebacker
Shi Smith — senior wide receiver
Sadarius Hutcherson — senior offensive lineman
Declared they’re not coming back
Adam Prentice — senior fullback
Collin Hill — senior quarterback
Chandler Farrell — tight end/defensive lineman
Seniors who walked on Senior Day
Will Register — tight end
Transfers out
Makius Scott — freshman defensive lineman (going to Georgia Tech)
Shilo Sanders — redshirt freshman defensive back (going to Jackson State)
John Dixon — sophomore defensive back (going to Penn State)
Joseph Anderson — redshirt freshman defensive lineman (going to Purdue)
Deshaun Fenwick — redshirt sophomore running back (going to Oregon State)
Jammie Robinson — sophomore defensive back (going to Florida State)
Keir Thomas — senior defensive lineman (going to Florida State)
KeShawn Toney — redshirt freshman tight end (going to Chattanooga)
Ryan Hilinski — sophomore quarterback (going to Northwestern)
Could be coming back (9)
Opt-outs (4)
Randrecous Davis — junior wide receiver
OrTre Smith — junior wide receiver
Mark Fox — redshirt freshman offensive lineman
R.J. Roderick — junior defensive back
Seniors who didn’t walk on Senior Day (5)
Jaylan Foster — defensive back
Spencer Eason-Riddle — linebacker
Aaron Sterling — defensive lineman
Damani Staley — linebacker
Sherrod Greene — linebacker
Set to come back (57)
QUARTERBACK (1)
Luke Doty, freshman
RUNNING BACK (4)
Kevin Harris, sophomore
Rashad Amos, freshman
MarShawn Lloyd, freshman
ZaQuandre White, redshirt junior
WIDE RECEIVER (8)
Josh Vann, junior
Dakereon Joyner, redshirt sophomore
Xavier Legette, sophomore
Jalen Brooks, junior
Rico Powers, freshman
Ger-Cari Caldwell, freshman
Chad Terrell, redshirt junior
Mike Wyman, freshman
Trey Adkins, redshirt sophomore (walk-on)
Ben Rollins, freshman (walk-on)
TIGHT END (5)
Nick Muse, senior (announced he is coming back)
Traevon Kenion, redshirt freshman
Jaheim Bell, freshman
Eric Shaw, freshman
Keveon Mullins, redshirt freshman
OFFENSIVE LINE (14)
Jordan Rhodes, redshirt junior
Eric Douglas, redshirt junior
Dylan Wonnum, junior
Jazston Turnetine, junior
Jaylen Nichols, sophomore
Jovaughn Gwyn, redshirt sophomore
Jakai Moore, redshirt freshman
Tyshawn Wannamaker, freshman
Hank Manos, redshirt sophomore
Trai Jones, freshman
Vincent Murphy, redshirt freshman
Vershon Lee, freshman
Wyatt Campbell, redshirt sophomore
Will Rogers, redshirt freshman
DEFENSIVE LINE (13)
Jabari Ellis — senior (announced he is coming back)
Jordan Burch, freshman
Brad Johnson, redshirt junior
Rodricus Fitten, redshirt freshman
Gilber Edmond, freshman
Zacch Pickens, sophomore
Kingsley Enagbare, junior
Rick Sandidge, junior
Tonka Hemingway, freshman
Tyreek Johnson, redshirt sophomore
M.J. Webb, redshirt junior
Alex Huntley, freshman
Devontae Davis, redshirt junior
LINEBACKER (3)
Mohamed Kaba, freshman
Jahmar Brown, sophomore
Rosendo Louis Jr., redshirt sophomore
Noah Vincent (walk-on), redshirt sophomore
Darryle Ware (walk-on), freshman
DEFENSIVE BACKS (6)
Jaylin Dickerson, redshirt junior
Cam Smith, redshirt freshman
Joey Hunter, freshman
Dominick Hill, freshman
O’Donnell Fortune, freshman
Darius Rush, redshirt sophomore
SPECIALISTS (3)
Parker White, senior, kicker
Kai Kroeger, freshman, punter
Mitch Jeter, freshman, kicker
Commitments (11)
Colton Gauthier — quarterback
Caleb McDowell — running back
O’Mega Blake — wide receiver
Sam Reynolds — wide receiver
JonDarius Morgan — offensive lineman
Jordan Davis — offensive lineman
T.J. Sanders — defensive lineman
Nicholas Barrett — defensive lineman
Marcellas Dial — defensive back
Isaiah Norris — defensive back
Kolbe Fields — linebacker
Transfers (7)
Ahmarean Brown — wide receiver (coming from Georgia Tech)
Darryl Williams — linebacker (coming from Delaware)
David Spaulding — defensive back (coming from Georgia Southern)
Jahkeem Green — defensive lineman (coming from Nebraska)
Jordan Strachan — linebacker (coming from Georgia State)
Jason Brown — quarterback (coming from Saint Francis)
EJ Jenkins — wide receiver (coming from Saint Francis)
This story was originally published December 11, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
