COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) South Carolina coach Shane Beamer is looking for more out of his program heading into his second season after a debut few saw coming.
The Gamecocks were considered one of the Southeastern Conference’s weakest teams when Beamer took over for Will Muschamp in December 2020.
But Beamer led South Carolina to its first winning season since 2018, capped by a memorable mayonnaise bath following the Gamecocks Duke’s Mayo Bowl win over North Carolina last December.
Nonetheless, the team is picked to finish fifth in the SEC East and will likely be the underdog in six of eight SEC games this year.
The players were thrilled with their finish last year, but are after bigger things than a winning season, Beamer said.
”The cool thing was, it was momentum coming back excited about the way we finished but also momentum about we can be even better,” he said.
Some on the outside also see the potential, too.
One of those people is ex-Oklahoma quarterback Shane Rattler, who transferred to South Carolina looking for a new start. Rattler also wants to show he’s the passer he was two years ago when he led the Sooners to a Big 12 title and not the Heisman hopeful who was benched midway through last season.
Rattler has shown off a strong arm and a willingness to sit back, learn and fit in with his new teammates.
”It’s a new situation, and a new place, so it’s definitely exciting,” Rattler said. ”I’m just ready to go.”
Rattler isn’t the only one eager to get started. There are several transfers from Power Five teams with the Gamecocks this season, including Rattler’s former Oklahoma tight end and teammate Austin Stogner and former Georgia defensive back Lovesea Carroll.
Beamer hasn’t officially named a starting quarterback, Rattler is expected to be behind center for the opening snap against Georgia State on Sept. 3.
Some other things to look for this upcoming season:
MORE NEWCOMERS
South Carolina brought in nine scholarship transfers this season. Many, like Rattler, are expected to make significant contributions.
Tight end Stogner made 10 starts at Oklahoma the past two seasons. Former Arkansas State receiver Corey Rucker caught 59 passes for 826 yards a year ago, numbers that would’ve lead the Gamecocks. Defensive end Terrell Dawkins started six games as a freshman at North Carolina State in 2020 with nine tackles for loss.
OFFENSIVE STRUGGLES
The Gamecocks were next-to-last in points scored and total offense last year. Much of the blame fell on…