Three burning questions for Shane Beamer at SEC Media Days
On Tuesday afternoon, Shane Beamer will take the stage at SEC Media Days for the sixth time as South Carolina’s head coach. He will exude confidence because, well, that’s the job, but also because the offseason changes he made are meaningful enough to provide real hope for a turnaround.
It will be quite the change from SEC Media Days last year, when Beamer was clapping back at SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum, insisting that it was “very doable” for the Gamecocks to win an SEC Championship after nearly making the College Football Playoff a year prior.
Following the Gamecocks’ 4-8 campaign in 2025, Beamer will be asked far more about the chances of having a solid season than anything involving a championship. That’s not a bad thing. Months before the Gamecocks nearly made the playoff, they were picked to finish 13th in the SEC. Perhaps Beamer and South Carolina are better as underdogs.
When Beamer does take the stage Tuesday afternoon, what are the burning questions for South Carolina’s head coach?
1. Can Kendal Briles return LaNorris Sellers to his 2024 form?
This is really the question that will determine South Carolina’s 2026 season. If quarterback LaNorrris Sellers plays like he did as a redshirt freshman — when he threw for over 2,700 yards and rushed for nearly 700 more — the Gamecocks should be in prime position.
If that doesn’t happen, we might be looking at a repeat of 2025.
And the success or failure of the Sellers’ operation comes down to new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, who drew rave reviews from Beamer and players coming out of spring practice.
If Briles’ offense — often the catalyst for year-over-year turnarounds when he first shows up inside a program — can get Sellers back to the "Superman" figure we saw in 2024, there’s no reason South Carolina couldn’t win nine games again.
Now, will Beamer be able to accurately point that out during media day? Probably not. After all, he was gung-ho last year about the continuity Mike Shula was bringing to the offense. But Beamer might be able to point out specifics on how Briles is getting Sellers back to his top-end form.
2. How does Beamer navigate the ‘hot seat’ chatter?
Beamer addressed the ”hot seat" talk to the local media this summer and gave thoughtful answers about how he understands and expects criticism following a 4-8 season.
But it will be worth monitoring how he answers those questions from national media members, who aren’t around the program every day and might have it in their head that South Carolina must win — hypothetically — eight games for Beamer to stick around another season.
One note to monitor is how Beamer speaks about the future of the program, specifically recruiting. A few weeks ago, five-star defensive back Joshua Dobson spoke about how other coaches had negatively recruited against South Carolina, citing Beamer’s job security. Yet Dobson committed, and so did three other blue-chippers, giving the Gamecocks a Top-30 recruiting class for 2027.
Things seem to be on the right track ... so long as South Carolina wins this season.
3. Will Dylan Stewart and Jacarrius Peak play week one?
Beamer has commented on the health of Stewart, the star edge who missed all spring with a back injury, and Peak, the star N.C. State transfer left tackle who missed the spring after getting injured playing basketball.
All seems to be going well in their recovery. But fans want to know specifics, and until Beamer says definitively that Stewart and Peak are going to suit up in the season opener against Kent State, there is going to be this lingering worry that they might not recover in time.
So while he’s commented plenty on their health, another update will be required — and perhaps this is the one that gives Gamecocks fans the peace of mind that two of South Carolina’s best players will be ready for the start of the season.
Watch Shane Beamer at SEC Media Days
Beamer is scheduled to speak at 2:55 p.m. Tuesday from at a press conference in the main media room inside the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street. That will be streamed on SEC Network Plus. He’ll be on set with the SEC Network crew at 4:35 p.m.
