Did USC consider playing QB Robby Ashford vs. Old Dominion? Here’s what Shane Beamer said

South Carolina coaches think the world of backup quarterback Robby Ashford, Shane Beamer says. But they didn’t consider subbing him in for LaNorris Sellers in Saturday’s opener against Old Dominion, Beamer contends, even when the Gamecocks’ starter hit some low points with the passing game.

It took some defensive heroics and a late rushing touchdown from Sellers for the Gamecocks to pull out the 23-19 win over the Sun Belt Conference’s ODU Monarchs. Sellers, a redshirt freshman making his first collegiate start, was 10 of 23 passing for 114 yards. He also ran the ball 22 times for 68 yards and a score.

USC’s head coach was asked about Ashford in the weekly “Gamecock Football with Coach Beamer” TV show that airs Sundays after each Gamecocks game.

“We didn’t,” Beamer said to show host Todd Ellis when asked if coaches considered inserting Ashford into the lineup. “LaNorris will be the first to tell you he has some things to clean up. I thought he did a great job, did what he needed to do to help us win. He certainly missed some throws and we’ll get that cleaned up, but that’s not always on the quarterback. I thought he did a great job running the football.”

Sellers’ 13 incomplete passes included some missed throws, others that were too high and a handful that were dropped by the receivers.

“It wasn’t pretty tonight, but we’re not that far off,” Beamer said of the passing game.

Ashford transferred to South Carolina from Auburn after the 2023 season. He went through spring practice with the Gamecocks and asserted himself as the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart behind Sellers.

“Robby is a guy that’s gonna help us win football games. There’s no doubt about it.,” Beamer said on the TV show. “But no, no discussion of that tonight.”