South Carolina football's offseason has remained active with coaching changes, transfer movement and key player decisions that could reshape the Gamecocks’ depth chart heading into 2026.
After missing bowl eligibility, South Carolina's transfer portal window opened Jan. 2 and runs through Jan. 16. As of Jan. 13, the Gamecocks have over a dozen incoming transfers.
Coaching staff changes
After three offensive coaches were dismissed at the end of last season, frustration toward head coach Shane Beamer surfaced. In late November, South Carolina Athletic Director Jeremiah Donati confirmed Beamer would return for 2026.
In mid December following these changes, South Carolina announced its new offensive staff: offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Kendall Briles, offensive line coach Randy Clements and assistant head coach - offense/running back coach Stan Drayton.
Briles has coached college football since 2008, making stops at seven schools. Before joining South Carolina, he spent two seasons at TCU as assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. His offense consistently ranked nationally in multiple categories.
Former South Carolina running back Raheim Sanders played for Briles at Arkansas before transferring to the Gamecocks. In December 2025, as Beamer searched for an offensive coordinator, he asked Sanders about Briles.
“I didn’t tell him why I was calling,” Beamer said. “I just said, ‘Good to talk to you', all that stuff, 'How’s the NFL going?' And I said, 'If I said the name Kendall Briles to you, what would you say?' He didn’t hesitate, and he said, ‘Get it done.’”
Along with Briles, Clements was another coach introduced in the introductory press conference. Clements is a veteran coach with 35 years of experience, including 23 seasons coaching college offensive linemen.
“Excited about the journey. It is going to be a grind,” Clements said. “It is going to be a day-to-day process, and we are going to work every day as hard as we can.”
Along with Briles and Clements, Drayton was the third coach introduced in December. Beamer described Drayton’s impact on the new offensive staff.
“Stan is what I have been looking for at the running back position since I got hired in December of 2020. He is the total package," Beamer said. "I have worked with him. I know the kind of person he is."
Drayton spent 2025 at Penn State and has 33 years of coaching experience. He and Beamer previously worked together at Mississippi State in 2004.
On the defensive staff, South Carolina introduced new defensive ends/outside linebackers coach Deion Barnes. Former defensive ends coach Sterling Lucas’s departure to LSU was described by Beamer as unusual and sudden, as he received a call the night he was offered the job and Lucas was gone the next morning.
One of South Carolina's most productive position groups in 2025 benefited from Lucas's mentorship.
Barnes worked at Penn State from 2020-25, first as a defensive graduate assistant, and later as a defensive line coach. Barnes helped produce several NFL talents such as Micah Parsons, Abdul Carter and Chop Robinson.
Along with the other coaching shifts in December, South Carolina defensive backs coach Torrian Gray was promoted to co-defensive coordinator, along with Clayton White.
‘Run it Back’: Key returns for the Gamecocks
In mid December, ESPN’s Pete Thamel announced that South Carolina was close to making a deal with quarterback LaNorris Sellers to return for his redshirt junior season in 2026. Fans and media outlets speculated that Sellers would either enter the transfer portal or enter the 2026 NFL Draft.
On Dec. 22, 2025, Sellers took to social media to announce he was returning to South Carolina.
The next day, junior edge rusher Dylan Stewart announced his return for 2026 via Instagram.
Barnes spoke about his excitement to work with Stewart and the rest of the room.
“Sounds like the guys are ready to work, and they are willing to do what needs to be done to put the work in,” Barnes said.
On Christmas Day, senior wide receiver Nyck Harbor announced his return for 2026 with a video greeting to Gamecock fans.
Harbor ended the 2025-26 season with 30 catches, 618 yards and six touchdowns.
As those three announced their return, several others have followed suit.
On defense, South Carolina’s linebacker group announced their 2026-27 return: junior Fred “JayR” Johnson, junior Justin Okoronkwo and redshirt senior Shawn Murphy.
Redshirt junior punt returner and defensive back Vicari Swain also announced he will return for the 2026-27 season.
Redshirt sophomore running back Matt Fuller and sophomore wide receiver Mazeo Bennett Jr. also announced they would return next season, joining Sellers and Harbor. After beginning the season third on the depth chart, Fuller previewed his abilities in 2025, playing 10 games and recording 260 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns.
Along with redshirt senior defensive lineman Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, sophomore offensive lineman Shedrick Sarratt Jr. and sophomore wide receiver Donovan Murph, South Carolina enters 2026 retaining much of its core despite offseason turnover.
Gamecock departures
While South Carolina welcomes back key contributors, the program has lost several players to the NFL Draft and the transfer portal.
Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, several key Gamecocks declared.
After three years with the Gamecocks, defensive back Jalon Kilgore announced for the draft, ending his college career with 178 tackles, eight interceptions and 4.5 tackles for loss. After transferring from NC State, junior cornerback Brandon Cisse played one season for the Gamecocks before declaring for the NFL Draft.
Senior edge Bryan Thomas Jr. also declared, ending his collegiate career with 19.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. Other draftees include redshirt senior defensive tackles Monkell Goodwine and Nick Barrett.
By early January 2026, the starting offensive line had entered the transfer portal after offensive struggles last season. Some have new teams; others remain in the portal.
Other departures include redshirt sophomore wide receiver Vandrevius Jacobs. Jacobs played at both South Carolina and Florida State with 789 yards passing and four touchdowns in 2025 and iscommitting to Miami. As well as freshman wide receiver Brian Rowe Jr. who finished with 149 receiving yards, one touchdown in 2025 heading to UCLA and redshirt sophomore edge rusher Jaylen Brown, who followed Lucas to LSU.
With new faces in the offensive coordinator and offensive line roles, the Gamecocks can look toward what's to come in the remaining offseason and spring football.