Shane Beamer is getting a sixth year at the helm in Columbia, and he's not wasting a second of it. After a tough 4-8 finish to the 2025 season, South Carolina’s head coach has hit the ground running this offseason-and the early returns are giving Gamecock fans something to feel good about heading into 2026.
First and foremost, Beamer and his staff managed to keep their recruiting class intact, no small feat considering the team’s struggles on the field. That starts with four-star quarterback Landon Duckworth.
The Alabama native had every reason to look elsewhere-he seriously considered flipping to Ole Miss under Lane Kiffin and even entertained interest from LSU. But in the end, he stuck with South Carolina.
That’s a big win for Beamer, not just because Duckworth is a talented signal-caller, but because it signals belief in the direction of the program, even after a down year.
And Beamer wasn’t done there. On the second day of the early signing period, the Gamecocks pulled off a significant flip, landing four-star EDGE rusher Julian Walker, who had previously been committed to Michigan.
That’s the kind of defensive talent South Carolina needs to start turning things around on that side of the ball-and it’s also a statement move. Beamer and his staff are clearly still in the fight on the recruiting trail, and winning a head-to-head battle with a Big Ten power like Michigan is no small thing.
All told, it’s been a strong start to what could be a pivotal offseason for Beamer. After being given another year to right the ship, he’s showing he’s not just sitting back and hoping things improve. He’s working the phones, locking down talent, and keeping the future of the program moving forward-even after a season that could’ve derailed momentum.
There’s still a long way to go before South Carolina takes the field again, but if Beamer can continue building off this early recruiting success, the Gamecocks might just be laying the foundation for a bounce-back year in 2026.