South Carolina Football: 100 days from kickoff, which Gamecocks must step up in 2024?
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina Football Players and Coaches Who Must Step Up in 2024:
Assistant Coach Shawn Elliott
South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer hired former Gamecock assistant (and interim head coach) Shawn Elliott this offseason to serve as the team's tight ends coach and run game coordinator. Elliott is leaving his Georgia State Panthers head coaching job to replace the outgoing Jody Wright (and, briefly, Justin Stepp) at the tight ends spot, and he will be the first official run game coordinator under Beamer.
Positionally, Elliotts' first priority will be his tight end position room, but because he has spent most of his career working with the offensive line, he has been working alongside current offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley in an unofficial capacity, as well.
However, Shawn Elliott's biggest role for the 2024 Gamecocks might be his run game coordinator duties. Carolina put up a program-worst 85 yards per game on the ground last season, despite the emergence of Mario Anderson as a useful back. That will have to change this year.
South Carolina football fans should be optimistic about Elliott's potential impact on the rushing attack as his Georgia State teams put up a collective average of over 200 rushing yards per game over the past 5 seasons. When he held the run game coordinator title with the Gamecocks under head coach Steve Spurrier, USC had some of its best-ever dual-threat quarterback game plans.
If Elliott can step up to the plate and replicate that type of success for Carolina in 2024, the offense will be an improved unit overall.