Inside the Gamecocks’ 2026 Core: Why continuity is South Carolina’s quiet advantage

The film doesn't lie, and neither did the 2025 season. Every stalled drive, every third-and-long, every QB sack...it all added up to a truth that South Carolina couldn't deny. The offensive line wasn't just struggling; it was buckling under the weight of a season that demanded change. And when the final whistle blew on a 4-8 season, the reset in Columbia wasn't optional, it was long overdue. What has followed in the offseason has been equal parts uncomfortable, inevitable, cautious, and exciting. As the Transfer Portal doors swung open in early January, Columbia felt the aftershocks. Familiar names have exited. Continuity has given way to uncertainty at Williams-Brice Stadium. And the unit that was once tasked with setting the tone for the offense has been stripped down to its studs.

Now, with a retooled offensive staff under head coach Shane Beamer, returning anchors, and an increasingly aggressive push in the portal, South Carolina Football is standing at a crossroads. This offseason isn't about plugging the holes, it's about rebuilding trust in the trenches, in the coaching staff, and rewriting how this team survives Saturdays in the SEC.

A Mass Exodus Up Front

As of now, seven scholarship offensive linemen have entered the transfer portal, including several familiar names within Gamecock Nation including Josiah Thompson, Tree Babalade, Trovon Baugh, and Cason Henry.

Those departures, among others have stripped South Carolina of not just depth, but experience. To put it in perspective, the entire starting offensive line from the season opener against Virginia Tech is now gone, along with multiple rotational pieces who logged meaningful snaps throughout the year.

The numbers from 2025 explain why change was inevitable. South Carolina surrendered 43 sacks, ranking 132nd out of 134 FBS teams, and averaged just 111.1 rushing yards per game, the second-worst rushing output in a season under fifth year head coach Shane Beamer. At times, the ground game stalled entirely, and protection issues consistently put the offense behind the chains.

The Core Is Staying: Full List of Confirmed South Carolina Returners for 2026

While the departures have dominated headlines, and the offensive line was stripped down and rebuilt from scratch, the Gamecocks quietly locked in impact continuity at quarterback, receiver, the trenches, and all three levels of the defense. That matters, both culturally and competitively. Several key contributors are confirmed to return for the 2026 season, providing continuity amid the chaos:

LaNorris Sellers (QB)
The heartbeat of the offense. Sellers publicly announced his return, signaling belief in the program, the reset, and what’s coming next. This was a foundational win.

Nyck Harbor (WR)
South Carolina’s top receiving threat from 2025 is running it back. Harbor’s return gives the passing game explosiveness, matchup stress, and presence to build around.

Mazeo Bennett (WR)
A reliable, experienced piece staying in Columbia as the receiver room stabilizes around Sellers.

Donovan Murph (WR)
Murph has real developmental upside and can grow into a major contributor in the coming years.

Shed Sarratt (OL)
With seven scholarship linemen gone, Sarratt’s return carries outsized importance. He’s not just back — he’s now a tone-setter in a room full of newcomers.

Nolan Hay (OL)
Another critical returner who provides experience and flexibility as the line is rebuilt through the portal.

Dylan Stewart (EDGE)
A disruptive presence confirmed to return, Stewart anchors the front seven and gives the defense a proven pressure piece to lean on.

Maurice Brown II (TE)
The athletic tight end presence returns to bolster a passing attack that needs versatile weapons from all levels of the formation.

Fred Johnson (LB)
A stabilizing force in the middle of the defense, Johnson’s return adds leadership and reliability to a unit that needs both.

Vicari Swain (DB/Return Specialist)
A steady contributor, the savior punt returner, is staying in the fold as the roster reshapes.

Matt Fuller (RB)
A dynamic RB who contributed in 2025 and provides a backfield continuity boost.

Jimmy Francis (QB)
Adds depth and experience behind the main signal-caller.

Brady Hunt (TE)
Another TE presence that is valuable for blocking packages and red-zone defense.

Shawn Murphy (LB)
A defensive returner with experience that can be framed as part of the backbone of the defense.

Justin Okoronkwo (LB)
A key contributor at LB with rotational or starter upside.

Why This Matters

South Carolina lost bodies, especially up front, but has managed to keep the decision-makers, playmakers, and leaders. Quarterback. Top receiver. Defensive disruptors. Veteran linemen. That’s how programs survive portal winters.

For the 2026 season, in year six for Shane Beamer, this offseason isn't about pretending that the 2025 campaign didn't happen. It is about acknowledging failure, keeping the right people, and building forward. In an era of college football defined by exits and paydays, South Carolina's offseason story isn't who left, it's about who chose to stay.