South Carolina Football: Three Freshmen Suspended Indefinitely

In a week full of good news for the South Carolina football program’s future, some bad news surfaced on Friday morning. True freshmen Monteque Rhames and Cameron Upshaw and redshirt freshman Anthony Rose were suspended and removed from the football team and the University’s campus. The suspension from school and the football team is indefinite pending a criminal investigation into “unlawful possession of a weapon” in a dorm room according to a release from the University to students and their families. The release did not mention the names of the students involved in the investigation. The weapon or weapons in question were found due to searches made in response to an anonymous tip from another student.

At this point in time, it is unclear what additional legal, academic, and athletic consequences will befall the young men involved, but according to Richland County online arrest records, Rhames has two charges pending against him. Upshaw and Rose have not had any updates released about their situations at this time. Head Coach Shane Beamer announced the suspensions without going into any details but made clear that “[the] student athletes know what is expected of them. They know that both the University and the football program will hold them accountable for their actions and decisions.”

On the field, Rhames is an EDGE player, probably a best fit as a weakside defensive end. Upshaw and Rose are defensive backs, but neither have had their position set in stone. Rhames and Rose were 4-star recruits out of high school, and Upshaw was a 3-star prospect.

Rhames, a Sumter native, and Upshaw, from the state of Florida, enrolled at the University in January. Rose is also from Florida and joined the team a year ago but did not see any game action during the 2022 season. The three players are not permitted to be on campus unless their suspensions are lifted. These are the first arrests during Shane Beamer’s time as the Gamecock head coach.