South Carolina is expected to hire former TCU offensive coordinator Kendal Briles as the team’s next offensive coordinator, giving Shane Beamer a proven play-caller to hopefully lead the Gamecock’s to an improved unit going forward.

The hire comes on the heels of Mike Shula failing to make it through one season as the team’s offensive coordinator. Through 12 games the team ranked 14 in scoring offense (22.67 ppg), 15th in total offense (336.33 ypg), 15th in rushing (111.08 ypg), and 12th in passing (22.25 ypg). It is a significant down grade from where they were a year ago. Beamer pivoted to wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator Mike Furrey, but ultimately decided an outside hire was for the best.

Briles is the fourth offensive coordinator to join the Gamecocks in five seasons under Beamer’s tenure. He joins Marcus Satterfield, Dowell Loggains, and Mike Shula are the hires made since 2021.

Air Raid Coming to Columbia?

Briles is the son of former Baylor head coach Art Briles. His father has been known to run an air raid offensive attack that likes to use some zone read and run-pass-options (RPO) as well. Tennessee head coach Josh Huepel also runs a similar version of the offense.

This is Briles’ seventh school since 2015 where he has served as the offensive coordinator. He career includes stops at Baylor (2015-2016), Florida Atlantic (2017), Houston (2018), Florida State (2019), Arkansas (2020-2022), and TCU (2023-2025). This past season the Horned Frogs offense averaged 30.8 points per game, 132.6 rushing yards per game, 292.8 passing yards per game, and 425.3 total yards per game, all of which are better marks than the Gamecocks this season.

The biggest question mark now comes from who remains on the staff and what does the offensive roster look like this offseason. The team badly needs help in the running back room and along the offensive line. If they are able to fill those holes, or at least patch them, Briles could find success in the near future.

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On Thursday, South Carolina managed to flip four-star EDGE Julian Walker from the Michigan Wolverines. The new Gamecock pledge then signed his paperwork to make things official with USC.

In South Carolina’s 2026 signing class, Walker (No. 72 nationally in the Rival Industry Ranking and No. 26 nationally in the Rivals300) ranks behind only Darius Gray (No. 45) in the Rival Industry Ranking and behind only Zyon Guiles (No. 24) in the Rivals300. Ranked 26th, he is also within future five-star range in the Rivals300.

The (second day of) Signing Day pilfering made national recruiting waves. In fact, Rivals’ Greg Smith called the flip one of college football’s best in the class of 2026. Walker’s Michigan-to-South-Carolina swap was one of Smith’s six biggest flips of the cycle.

Walker’s choice primarily came down to the Wolverines and the Gamecocks, but the North Carolina Tar Heels got involved late. His high school coach, Tom Knotts, even said that head coach Bill Belichick was “throwing money at him.”

In the end, though, relationships with South Carolina won out. Walker’s father, Jamil Walker, is on the strength staff at USC. Head coach Shane Beamer, defensive ends/outside linebackers coach Sterling Lucas, and defensive line coach Travian Robertson all have strong relationships with the dynamic pass rusher.

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A product of Dutch Fork High School just outside of Columbia, Walker will get to stay home with the Gamecocks. At 6-6 and 255 pounds, he could be a candidate to play early, though he has considerable developmental upside, too.

On Saturday, two days after his signing, Walker wrapped up a state championship season with the Silver Foxes. He was arguably the player of the game, as he logged three sacks and a defensive touchdown against Summerville.

Walker’s next time on a field will be in garnet and black. He will be part of a group of EDGE players looking to help replace the production of graduates Bryan Thomas Jr., JT Geer, and Demon Clowney.

Rising junior Dylan Stewart, rising senior Desmond Umeozulu, rising sophomore Jaylen Brown, and rising redshirt freshmen Jaquavious Dodd, Anthony Addison, and Kobby Sakyi-Prah all have eligibility remaining in the room. Redshirt senior George Wilson is also expected to apply for an additional year after an injury sidelined him for all of 2025.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Meechie Johnson scored 17 points and South Carolina beat Stetson 82-51 on Saturday.

Johnson made all five of his field-goal attempts, including two 3-pointers, and all five free throws while also handing out four assists. Grant Polk made 4 of 6 3-pointers and scored 12 points. Elijah Strong had a pair of 3s and 12 points for the Gamecocks (6-3), who shot 55%, including 44% from the arc (12 of 27).

Collin Kuhl, Ethan Copeland and Jamie Phillips Jr. scored 10 points apiece for the Hatters (3-8), who lost their fifth straight after shooting 32% and making just 4 of 21 3-pointers.

Stetson scored the first five points before South Carolina went on a 18-4 run capped by consecutive 3-pointers by Strong and the Gamecocks led the rest of the way. They finished the first half on an 18-3 run with Johnson scoring the final six points with a three-point play and a 3-pointer for a 43-24 lead.

The Gamecocks remained comfortably ahead in the second half, taking their largest lead of 33 with under three minutes to go.

Up next

Stetson is home against Rhodes College on Dec. 15.

South Carolina is home against The Citadel next Saturday.

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