In a press conference on Tuesday South Carolina head football coach Shane Beamer updated the media on the state of the team as it starts its slate of spring practices.
During the press conference, Beamer gave an update on junior quarterback Luke Doty’s injury, which sidelined him for the season after a game against Vanderbilt.
“He’s getting more and more clear to do everything, and the more and more he can do, the better,” Beamer said.
Beamer also said that South Carolina is not ready to name a starting quarterback, while later adding that redshirt junior quarterback Spencer Rattler — who recently transferred from Oklahoma — was taking all the reps with the first group.
Junior tight end Jaheim Bell is currently dealing with a hamstring injury he suffered ahead of South Carolina’s bowl game against North Carolina.
Beamer was optimistic about Bell's status saying that “nobody has said to me that he’s done with spring practice,” and adding that Bell is one of many players out with hamstring injuries.
As for the players dealing with the hamstring injuries, Beamer said none should be long-term.
South Carolina hit the transfer portal hard this offseason with the addition of graduate running back Christian Beal-Smith from Wake Forest, among others.
With the addition of Beal-Smith, South Carolina has a very crowded running back room with other notable running backs including redshirt sophomore Marshawn Lloyd, redshirt freshman Lovasea Carroll and sophomore Juju McDowell.
Beamer said that the team must “figure out how to be creative and figure out how to get more running backs on the field.”
Lloyd is still recovering from tearing his ACL during the 2020 season. Beamer said that Lloyd has been improving in his route running and catching at the running back position.
“He’s done a nice job of getting stronger, getting faster, more explosive," Beamer said.