Gamecocks blend in high-profile transfers
South Carolina coach Shane Beamer won’t ever turn down someone who can improve his team. He believes he’s added plenty of those players this spring.
The Gamecocks wrapped up spring workouts with the Garnet and Black game on Saturday night. Former Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler, a Heisman Trophy favorite before last season, completed 8 of 10 passes for 79 yards. Wake Forest’s leading rusher the past two seasons, Christian Beal-Smith, ran for 18 yards and the scrimmage’s only rushing touchdown.
Antwane Wells Jr., a record-setting receiver at James Madison, caught three passes for 31 yards.
Ex-North Carolina State defensive end Terrell Dawkins led all defenders with 21/2 tackles for loss.
“I’ll continue to say it for a long, long time,” Beamer said. “We’re about competition. The more we can create competition at certain positions, the better.”
Especially on offense, where Beamer hopes to transform a group ranked next to last in yards and points per game in the Southeastern Conference last season.
Beamer and his staff worked the transfer portal to find players for the next step forward after going 7-6 with a bowl win in his head coaching debut. This year, that begins with Rattler, a five-star prospect out of high school who excelled with the Sooners before losing his job in midseason last fall.
Rattler’s past and future teammate, tight end Austin Stogner – he’s not expected on campus until later this spring – should combo up again with the quarterback.
Beal-Smith ran for 1,336 yards and 12 touchdowns the past two seasons. Wells set single-season records for receiving yards and touchdowns a year ago for James Madison.
“We’re really deep in our skill positions,” Rattler said Saturday night. “So that makes my job easier.”
The transfer boost is not all offense. Dawkins had 41/2 sacks as a freshman for the Wolfpack two years ago before injuries slowed him.
Most recently, South Carolina got a commitment from coveted Arkansas State wideout Corey Rucker, who had 59 catches for 826 yards and nine touchdowns.
Offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield got the brunt of blame from fans for South Carolina’s problems moving the ball.
He’s excited the newcomers have shown leadership along with skill this spring.