South Carolina football: 3 takeaways from the season opener

Key takeaways for South Carolina football

Special teams will make a difference

Beamer Ball has officially arrived in Columbia. The Gamecocks changed the game on special teams, converting on a two-point conversion early in the matchup, connecting on a second-half field goal, and blocking two punts.

Shane Beamer’s dad, Frank, was known for his ability to influence games with special teams play, and it’s carried over to his son. The younger Beamer has been a special teams coordinator at numerous stops, including in his first stint at South Carolina, and his emphasis on the area is already producing dividends.

Freshman transfer Debo Williams was the star of the night, earning SEC freshman of the week honors after blocking those two punts we just mentioned. Those were the first blocked punts for the program since 2014. Both set up Gamecock touchdowns, helping the team blow open what was a close game early in the first half.

Special teams will undoubtedly impact the South Carolina football season. Super senior kicker Parker White is looking to cap his career off by becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer. Sophomore punter Kai Kroeger continues to be steady, booting two punts for an average of 42 yards on Saturday to help flip field position.

South Carolina is still looking for someone to make an impact in the return game, a piece that’s been missing in Columbia since the departure of Deebo Samuel, but if there’s a player on the roster that can be successful, Beamer will find him. Look for the Gamecocks to continue finding creative ways to use special teams as an asset moving forward.