Why Shane Beamer is optimistic about South Carolina’s offense in post-Rattler era

The Spencer Rattler era of South Carolina football is over.

Two quarterbacks who’ve combined for zero starts in a Gamecock uniform rise up in his stead. Neither has the leadership experience nor the passing pedigree of the two-time team captain now signed to the New Orleans Saints. For many, all this newness under center — combined with South Carolina’s rushing and offensive line woes of 2023 — is worrisome.

But Shane Beamer doesn’t see it that way. New can be scary, yes, but it can also be exciting. And that’s how the fourth-year head coach is choosing to look at it.

While redshirt freshman LaNorris Sellers and redshirt senior Robby Ashford compete for the title of QB1, many questions remain regarding how South Carolina will improve its offense in 2024. USC ranked last in the SEC in rushing last season and finished 12th of 14 teams in sacks allowed with 41. Beamer ventured to answer those questions Monday in Dallas at SEC Media Days.

How Rocket Sanders can launch South Carolina’s run game

Beamer and company went to work in the transfer portal this offseason to revamp its running back room. They added Jawarn Howell from South Carolina State, Oscar Adaway III from North Texas and will return Juju McDowell (who started one game in 2023). But the most exciting newcomer is Raheim “Rocket” Sanders out of Arkansas.

Sanders solidified himself as one of the nation’s top running backs in 2022. He accumulated 1,443 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns along with 28 receptions for 271 yards and two scores. He was limited in 2023 after injuring his knee in Arkansas’ season opener versus Western Carolina and did not participate in spring drills with USC while rehabbing from shoulder surgery.

But he’s “hungry” to return, Beamer said. The head coach recalled seeing Sanders in the weight room at 6 a.m. every day in May putting in extra work. He is listed as weighing 230 pounds on South Carolina’s 2024 roster, down 12 pounds from 2023.

“I think people forget how freaking good that guy was in 2022,” Beamer told local media in Dallas. “I’m glad people have. But he’s really good when healthy.

“I’m optimistic that we’re going to see the best version of Rocket Sanders this upcoming season that the SEC ever has.”

On USC’s more experienced offensive line

South Carolina’s offensive line suffered double-digit injuries last season, which stifled USC’s ability to establish its run game and often saw Rattler slammed into the turf.

But Beamer put a hopeful spin on that dilemma as well.

“We’ve (now) got a lot of guys that have played a lot of football on the offensive line,” he said.

The Gamecocks used nine different o-line combinations over the 12-week season. Tree Babalade (left tackle) and Trovon Baugh (right guard) return after starting as true freshmen. Sixth-year lineman Jakai Moore started nine games in 2023 splitting his time between right guard (four games), left guard (four games) and left tackle (one game).

Vershon Lee will serve as USC’s center this season, Beamer said, but has experience at every position on the offensive line.

“When you have a center like Vershon Lee, I don’t want to say security blanket, but that makes you feel better when you got a center up there helping that new quarterback in Game 1.”