As the South Carolina Gamecocks look to continue to improve the program under head coach Shane Beamer, we take a look at the newcomers that need to have great seasons.

Going into his fourth season as South Carolina’s head coach, Shane Beamer wants to improve upon his disappointing 2023 5-7 record, he’ll need some help from some new faces to his program. After an offseason that boasted top 20 recruiting classes both from the high school ranks, as well as from the transfer portal, there’s likely to be some immediate production that wasn’t on the roster in 2023. Here’s three new Gamecocks to watch out for in 2024.

Dylan Stewart, EDGE
The most physically gifted and talented player joining the Gamecocks in 2024 is true freshman Dylan Stewart out of Washington, DC. Stewart was ranked as the number 2 EDGE player and number 19 overall player in the 2024 recruiting class. He shows a good blend of speed and strength to go along with massive size at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds. According to 247Sports (2024), Stewart is the second-highest-rated EDGE player to commit to South Carolina since Jadeveon Clowney in 2011, and they share almost identical measurables. If Stewart has a good fall camp and can adjust to the pace of SEC football, he could see significant snaps for the Gamecocks and be an immediate producer in this defense.

Raheim Sanders, RB
This one seems almost unfair to use. Running back Raheim Sanders, an incoming senior from Arkansas, was named as a Second Team All-American in 2022. In 13 games during the 2022 campaign, Sanders rushed for over 1400 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also tacked on another 270 yards and two scores receiving out of the backfield. Multiple injuries sidelined him in 2023 for the Razorbacks, but Sanders has remained confident that he will return to his former glory in 2024. If he is fully healthy, Sanders will look to replicate his impressive numbers from 2022.

Offensive Line Unit
While this isn’t a singular player, it’s worth pointing out that Shane Beamer clearly recognized that his offensive line did not play up to standard in 2023. The Gamecocks signed four transfers and two high school recruits in their 2023 signing class. The mix of talented incoming freshmen and experienced incoming transfers should provide a solid boost to an offensive line that ranked 118th in sacks allowed in 2023 with 41. If this unit can build some cohesion and keep first-year starting quarterback LaNoris Sellers upright, South Carolina could easily improve on the offensive side of the ball in 2024.

Full List of Incoming Players to the South Carolina Roster

Freshmen:

● Dylan Stewart

● Josiah Thompson

● Fred Johnson

● Wendell Gregory

● Kam Pringle

● Mazeo Bennett

● Kelvin Hunter

● Dante Reno

● Blake Franks

● Debron Gatling

● David Bucey

● Mason Love

● Michael Smith

● Jerome Simmons

● Jalewis Solomon

● Matthew Fuller

Transfers:

● Vandrevius Jacobs (FSU)

● Dalevon Campbell (Nevada)

● Gilber Edmond (FSU)

● Kamaar Bell (FAU)

● Robby Ashford (Auburn)

● Davis Beville (Oklahoma)

● Torricelli Simpkins III (North Carolina Central)

● Buddy Mack III (PITT)

● Monkey Goodwine (Alabama)

● Aaryn Parks (Oklahoma)

● Bangally Kamara (PITT)

● Gage Larvadain (Miami (OH))

● Demetrius Knight Jr. (Charlotte)

● Ahmari Huggins-Bruce (Louisville)

● Gerald Kilgore (Tennessee Tech)

● Brady Hunt (Ball State)

● Kyle Kennard (Georgia Tech)

● Jawarn Howell (South Carolina State)

● Raheim Sanders (Arkansas)

● DeAndre Jules (PITT)

● Oscar Adaway III (North Texas)

● Jared Brown (Coastal Carolina)

South Carolina baseball will open NCAA Baseball Tournament play as the 2-seed in the Raleigh Regional.

The Gamecocks will face 3-seed James Madison on Friday, with host NC State facing 4-seed Bryant in the other game on Friday at Doak Field.

Here’s the full schedule for the Raleigh Regional:

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At Doak Field in Raleigh; double-elimination format

Friday’s games

Game 1: South Carolina (36-23) vs. James Madison (34-23), 2 p.m. on ESPN+

Game 2: NC State (33-20) vs. Bryant (36-19), 7 p.m. on ESPN+

Saturday’s games

Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 12 p.m.; TV TBD

Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.; TV TBD

Sunday’s games

Game 5: Game 4 loser vs. Game 3 winner, 12 p.m.; TV TBD

Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.; TV TBD

Monday’s game (if necessary)

Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBD

United States and South Carolina flags at state facilities are flying at half-staff in S.C. in honor of Memorial Day.

Gov. Henry McMaster ordered the lowering of flags in observance of Memorial Day.

Why are the flags at half-staff in South Carolina?

McMaster ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff on Memorial Day to honor armed services personnel who lost their lives defending the U.S. Memorial Day is observed yearly on the last Monday in May.

How long will flags be at half-staff?

U.S. and S.C. flags will be flown at half-staff from sunrise to noon on Memorial Day, May 27.

Why do flags fly at half-staff?

Usa.gov states that the American flag flies at half-staff when the country or a state is in mourning. The president, a state governor or the mayor of the District of Columbia can order flags to fly at half-staff.

An American flag flying at half-staff generally indicates one of these three things:

1. The death of a government official, military member or emergency first responder.
2. A national tragedy.
3. Memorial Day and other national days of remembrance.

Where will flags be flown at half-staff?

McMaster ordered that flags be flown at half-staff at the S.C. State Capitol.

The governor requests that the flags over state buildings and buildings of the political subdivisions of this state similarly be flown at half-staff.

Is it half-mast or half-staff?

Previous reporting from Memphis Commercial Appeal explained that on ships and at naval stations ashore, flags are flown at half-mast. Elsewhere ashore, flags are flown at half-staff.

Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.