When Dowell Loggains left Columbia in December to take the head role at Appalachian State, the Gamecocks didn't have to look far for his replacement. Mike Shula, already embedded in the program as an offensive analyst, was ready to step in and take the reins. Now officially the OC, Shula enters his first full season calling the plays for the Gamecocks armed with the trust relationship within the squad and a rising star at center. Shula's first real test came quickly with the team, guiding South Carolina in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against Illinois. And while the Gamecocks lost that game, the bigger picture is what (and who) lies ahead in 2025.
A Familiar Face for a New Era
Head coach Shane Beamer believes in his OC. The transition has been nothing but smooth due to the strong bond between Shula and sophomore quarterback LaNorris Sellers. At SEC Media Days this week, Beamer emphasized the relationship between the two, "LaNorris and Coach Shula had a good relationship last year. Coach Shula was in every quarterback meeting, on the sidelines with him, breaking things down on the iPad—so that connection’s already there.”
That connection Beamer spoke of is crucial as Shula continues to work develop Sellers' passing ability while keeping his mobility intact. Sellers rushed for 674 yards and seven touchdowns last season while throwing for 2,534 yards and 18 scores. “I just want to be able to do both on a more consistent basis,” Sellers said. “I can throw it, and I can run it. Now it’s about cleaning up footwork, making better throws from the pocket. I’m working to perfect that part of my game.”
Sharpening the Pass Game, Tweaking the O-Line
Shula's time coaching in NFL, including working with athletes like Eli Manning and Cam Newton, has already made an impression on the young Gamecock signal-caller. “Eli Manning was a pocket guy so when we focus on that, we talk Eli. But when we talk movement, we talk Cam,” Sellers said. “We do a lot of rapid-fire stuff, staying in one spot, quick drops, staying sharp.”
Going forward, the majority of the Gamecock offense under Shula will resemble what Loggains ran in 2024, when South Carolina ranked 48th nationally in scoring at 30.5 points per game. However, there are some strategic changes are in the works. “Schematically, we haven’t changed a lot,” Beamer said. “But we’ve tweaked some things, some terminology, a few wrinkles in the run and pass game. The goal is to streamline it and make us better overall.”
One major change heading into the 2025 season is ball security. Sellers unfortunately led the nation with 11 fumbles last year, a stat that the sophomore QB is fully aware needs fixing. “Ball security is the biggest thing I’ve been working on,” Sellers said.
Beamer also emphasized how the staff has made several changes in practice to correct those issues as well. “We looked back and said, ‘How can we teach it better?’” Beamer said. “We added some new drills and emphasized it more in spring. We’re confident it’ll improve as LaNorris gets more experience.”
Chemistry, Clarity, and Championship Intentions
As the countdown to kickoff begins, all eyes in Columbia will be on the growth of South Carolina's offensive line under Mike Shula. With a full offseason to prepare, a star quarterback brimming with potential, and a coaching staff determined to refine the details of the playbook, the Gamecocks are poised to take a significant step forward.