Shane Beamer grades QB reps by Cutter Woods, Air Noland in Coastal Carolina game
South Carolina football’s 51-7 win against Coastal Carolina allowed head coach Shane Beamer to get a look at some things he hasn’t seen much of this season: A win, a productive offense and extended reps from quarterbacks not named LaNorris Sellers or Luke Doty.
In addition to Sellers and Doty, Gamecock quarterbacks Cutter Woods and Air Noland both got playing time against the Chanticleers. Woods (10) and Noland (9) both played season-high snaps in the game. Beamer said getting touches to more of his QB room on USC’s senior day was a deliberate choice.
“We wanted to get all four of those quarterbacks in,” he said. “I thought all those guys did some good things and did some not-so-good things.”
It wasn’t Woods’ first time playing this season. He got some reps at the end of USC’s 26-7 loss to Oklahoma Oct. 18. The freshman out of Anderson went 4 for 5 with 23 passing yards against the Chanticleers.
“Cutter did a nice job managing the offense,” Beamer said. “We had the ball where he got hit and then picked up the fumble. Would have loved him for him to have stepped up in the pocket a little bit more because I think he’s getting ready to throw a touchdown pass to Brian Rowe on that play.”
Noland, a transfer from Ohio State, hadn’t played a snap this season before the Coastal game. He played nine snaps on Saturday, going 2 for 3 with 13 passing yards. Beamer joked that Noland managed the offense with the intention of getting more reps.
“I was kidding with him today,” Beamer said. “It was a called RPO, but some of those Air made the decision before the ball was snapped. He wasn’t handing it off. He was throwing it.”
While part of playing Woods and Noland was to give thanks for playing on the scout team, there’s something to be said about taking inventory for next season. Doty is graduating and Sellers could leave for the NFL Draft or hit the transfer portal. With USC’s own portal efforts to be determined, Woods and Noland are the top options after Sellers to start under center for the Gamecocks next season.
“They really do a great job of going over there and competing against our defense (in practice), and taking pride in that,” Beamer said. “They kind of rotate reps, and I’ve seen both those guys get better as the season has gone on.”
This story was originally published November 23, 2025 at 6:03 PM.
