What Shane Beamer said about Justin Stepp’s new role on South Carolina coaching staff
After serving as South Carolina’s wide receivers coach for the past three years, Justin Stepp is transitioning to tight ends coach.
The shuffling creates an interesting dynamic. Stepp will still be in the building with all the wide receivers he recruited and coached, but they will be taking orders from a new voice — former Georgia and Texas A&M assistant James Coley.
Stepp takes over the tight ends room from Jody Wright, now Murray State’s head coach.
Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer detailed the reasons for the switch at a news conference Friday.
“He can make the tight end room better as far as the passing game,” Beamer said. “... Justin gives us the ability to take his knowledge of the passing game, his knowledge of passing fundamentals and playing in space, which we do with our tight ends anyway, and get the them better.”
Beamer also added the move will help Stepp in his career development, allowing him to coach another position.
“If Justin has goals outside of here, which I know he does, the best way to take the next step as a coordinator, head coach or whatever it might be is to continue to grow your resume and responsibilities,” Beamer said. “Tight end position is an awesome position to coach on the offense. You are involved in the passing game, the running game, protections and it really forces you to grow. I’m excited for his ability to help our tight end room be better.”
Stepp arrived in Columbia as the final hire of Beamer’s first offensive staff in 2021. Since then, he guided Antwane “Juice” Wells to a stellar 2022 season and helped Xavier Legette rack up 1,255 yards last season. He also helped the Gamecocks land five-star receiver Nyck Harbor and four-star Mazeo Bennett.
The Gamecocks’ receivers room has flipped this offseason. They lost Legette and Ahmarean Brown to the NFL Draft and watched five others enter the transfer portal. So far, South Carolina has landed just three receivers from the portal: Jared Brown (Coastal Carolina), Ahmari Huggins-Bruce (Louisville) and Gage Larvadain (Miami, Ohio).
This story was originally published January 19, 2024 at 4:21 PM.
