Shane Beamer identifies the USC positions that are most undecided as camp begins

South Carolina’s football team begins preseason practice Friday and has “multiple” position groups still battling to form an official depth chart.

That’s according to USC head coach Shane Beamer, who spoke Thursday at the Gamecocks’ annual media day.

“The most up in the air is probably the receiver rotation and how that shakes out,” Beamer said.

South Carolina lost Xavier Legette (NFL) and Antwane “Juice” Wells (transfer) from its 2023 wide receiver room. The team added five from the transfer portal — Jared Brown (Coastal Carolina), Dalevon Campbell (Nevada), Ahmari Huggins-Bruce (Louisville), Vandrevius Jacobs (Florida State) and Gage Larvadain (Miami of Ohio) — and two true freshmen, Mazeo Bennett Jr. and Debron Gatling.

Nyck Harbor is the lone receiver with starting experience who returns.

Beamer declared wide receiver and offensive line as the two positions that are most undecided as camp begins.

“It really truly is to be determined” who starts and who plays at those positions, USC’s coach said.

Other position battles Beamer said he’s paying the closest attention to:

▪ How the QB competition plays out between redshirt freshman LaNorris Sellers and transfer Robby Ashford. Beamer mentioned transfer Davis Beville as well.

▪ Who the starting kicker is going to be will be decided in the coming weeks. With Mitch Jeter transferring, veteran Gamecock Alex Herrera has competition from younger teammates.

▪ Who starts opposite O’Donnell Fortune at cornerback.

▪ The depth behind starting safeties Nick Emmanwori and DQ Smith.

▪ Figuring out the linebacker rotation that was three deep last year but “we could have as much as a seven- or eight-man rotation” if enough players make progress, Beamer said.

▪ USC feels good about its defensive linemen, Beamer said, and coaches need to figure out the rotation there.

Roster update

Junior college defensive line transfer Jerome Simmons signed with the Gamecocks but won’t be part of the team this season. He could join the roster in the future, Beamer said.