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South Carolina football: Garrett Riley could be a candidate for OC job

By Jacob Elsey

Nov 17, 2018; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley (left) takes a photo with his brother Kansas Jayhawks offensive analyst Garrett Riley after the game at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 17, 2018; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley (left) takes a photo with his brother Kansas Jayhawks offensive analyst Garrett Riley after the game at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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South Carolina football is searching for an offensive coordinator.

A familiar name is beginning to resurface as the South Carolina staff begins its search for an offensive coordinator. It appeared that the offensive staff was all but complete, as Shame Beamer opted to retain Mike Bobo as the Gamecocks’ play caller, ending the initial OC search.

That plan has now backfired, as Bobo has accepted a position on the Auburn football staff, with new head coach Bryan Harsin prying him away from the sidelines in Columbia.

Now that the offensive coordinator position is back on the market, many around the program are circling back to a name that gained some early momentum throughout the first search. That name is Garrett Riley.

Riley was the SMU play caller in 2019, where he helped lead the Mustangs to a 7-3 overall record. The offense ranked 11th in the nation, averaging nearly 500 yards a game. It also finished in the top 15 in scoring at 38.6 points per contest. Both totals ranked second in the American Athletic Conference behind Central Florida.

Riley began to gain momentum in Columbia due to his connection with Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley, Garrett’s older brother. The elder brother, Lincoln, was Shane Beamer’s head coach while he was with the Sooners.

Beamer stated throughout the hiring process that he’d like to bring elements from the Oklahoma offense to South Carolina, and hiring Garrett Riley could be the best available option in achieving that.

Riley could also bring with him offensive line coach AJ Ricker, who was co-offensive coordinator with the Mustangs last season. Ricker was a finalist for the Broyles Award following the 2020 season, an honor given to the nation’s top assistant coach.

He was a member of some high powered offensive units prior to his stint in Dallas, including Missouri (’14-’15), Houston (’16), and Oklahoma State (’17). His time spent with Missouri is his only SEC experience, but he did help the Tigers reach the SEC title in 2014.

A Riley/Ricker combination could be a homerun hire in Columbia. The two don’t have nearly as much experience as Bobo and Friend, but they’re two young, innovative minds on the offensive side of the ball.

They may be Beamer’s next target as he looks to assemble the South Carolina coaching staff.

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