COLUMBIA — All of them know why they’re right here, and that the timeline is brief.
South Carolina retooled its offensive teaching workers as a result of the Gamecocks offense was horrid throughout a 4-8 season. Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Kendal Briles, offensive line coach Randy Clements and operating backs coach Stan Drayton had been launched on Dec. 12 as males who ran to the chance to restore the offense as a substitute of coaches that Shane Beamer reached out to, and in his phrases, they declined as a result of the chance was too large for them.
“There have been a variety of eyes on the South Carolina program going into the 2025 season due to what we completed in ’24. Loads of that, folks would level, whether or not honest or not, that the offense fell in need of expectations,” Beamer stated. “Each offensive coordinator that I talked to, or potential offensive coordinator about coming right here, they needed to perceive what an incredible alternative that is, however there’s going to be a variety of eyes on you due to what we return and the best way that we fell brief in ’25.”
There might be eyes, as a result of coaches who preside over two straight dropping seasons on this league usually don’t get a 3rd, particularly when the season earlier than the dropping seasons was a 9-4 affair that was the most effective years in these components in fairly a while. The three rookie coaches on the desk know that this could possibly be a one-year deal in the event that they don’t win instantly, and that the personnel they inherit and get by way of the switch portal will not be as much as successful instantly.
“These guys ran to this chance and stated, ‘Let’s freaking go,’” Beamer stated.
It begins with the specified identification. Briles has proven he can run prolific offenses, whether or not it’s on the bottom or by way of the air.
Which one will USC be? To be decided, however Briles a minimum of has a powerful concept of who might be on the head of it.
Whereas saying that he’s not absolutely plugged into what LaNorris Sellers will do within the coming days and weeks — heading to the NFL or returning to USC — he spoke about tailoring the offense round him, of constructing on what he does effectively.
“I’m in all probability not one hundred pc within the loop on what’s occurring with LaNorris … he’s going to decide,” Briles stated. “I really feel assured that he’s going to be again right here.”
The Gamecocks’ offensive line was one of many worst within the nation final 12 months, always failing to open operating lanes or preserve the warmth off Sellers. Line coach Randy Clements, whom Briles insisted on bringing with him from TCU, is so entwined with Briles that the 2 know precisely easy methods to meld their philosophies and personnel to what’s going to finest swimsuit USC.
However Clements has to completely gauge what he has aside from the couple of video games he’s already watched and the 10-minute assembly he had together with his returnees since he arrived.
“I need to are available in with a contemporary mindset, give everyone an opportunity to show themselves and see the place everyone suits,” he stated.
He additionally talked about the switch portal and the way USC goes to work it. A staff can by no means have sufficient linemen, particularly when the Gamecocks struggled as a lot as they did.
Operating backs coach Stan Drayton will ship his males into that line. USC by no means may get right into a rhythm final 12 months with any of their backs.
“I haven’t talked to all of them but — going to verify I do this at this time. However the ones that I’ve talked to, they’re excited to be right here, they usually’re excited to get higher,” Drayton stated. “That’s the mindset that I’m ready to listen to. It’s a brand-new begin for everyone in that room, and let’s go get it, man.”
The Gamecocks aren’t in nice form with their backs, returning solely three scholarship RBs and none coming in from highschool. They should land a number of backs from the portal, they usually should be SEC-ready.
However Drayton stated one thing that ought to please anxious USC followers. Whereas he has utilized a operating again rotation in a number of of his stops, he’s additionally been a proponent of feeding the “sizzling foot.”
That is maintaining the ball within the palms of a man who simply had a memorable play or sequence. USC had loads of failures operating the ball in 2025, however watching Matt Fuller break a 72-yard landing run at LSU after which not contact the ball for 2 quarters was significantly infuriating.
It’s all elements scattered across the kitchen proper now. The three new coaches, working with the retained Shawn Elliott and Mike Furrey, will add some and discard others.
They anticipate a scrumptious meal. And as Beamer stated all through the season, USC shouldn’t be far off.
Briles agreed.
“Simply acquired to fine-tune it slightly bit,” he stated.
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