Who will walk for senior day? How South Carolina’s coaches handle those conversations
Shane Beamer is like just about every college football fan these days, confused and generally unaware of where a lot of players stand with remaining eligibility.
Some guys, like South Carolina senior running back Rocket Sanders, will only play four years in college. Others —because of redshirt seasons, an extra COVID year and sometimes a medical redshirt — are playing college football for six, seven or more years.
“I mean, there’s some guys who have another year after this and I didn’t even realize,” Beamer said during his Sunday teleconference. “I’m like, ‘Holy smokes, this guy has another year of eligibility?’ And he does.”
Over the past two weeks, though, Beamer did need to nail down who could possible come back to be on the team’s 2025 roster.
Before Saturday’s game against Wofford (4 p.m.) — the Gamecocks’ final home game of the season — South Carolina will hold senior day festivities before kickoff.
Beamer needed to know (1.) who could walk for senior day, and (2.) which players with remaining eligibility want to walk and be recognized.
During South Carolina’s staff meeting last Thursday, Beamer spoke with his assistants about who was for sure walking (those with no more eligibility) and then gave them a list of those who had a decision to make.
From there, Beamer or a position coach has been having conversations with those select players.
“They don’t have to tell us 100% right now. They can make decisions,” Beamer said. Former running back “Dakereon Joyner I think went through senior night in 2022 and 2023 because he wasn’t really sure. And that’s fine.”
Among the seniors who have to decide whether they want to come back for another year: DT T.J. Sanders (R-Jr.), QB Robby Ashford (R-Sr.), WR Luke Doty (R-Sr.), WR Jared Brown (R-Jr.), OL Aaryn Parks (R-Sr.), DL Monkell Goodwine (R-Jr.) and LB Mohamed Kaba (R-Sr.).
Beamer said he received an updated list of those with another year who are planning to return.
“And I think that’s great,” he said. “I welcome all those guys back that want to come back. And I think it’s a testament to what we’re doing in this program that so many of these guys want to come back for another year.”
SOUTH CAROLINA VS. WOFFORD
- Who: South Carolina (7-3) vs. Wofford (5-6)
- Where: Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C.
- When: 4 p.m. Saturday
- Watch: SEC Network Plus (streaming only)
