South Carolina Gamecocks news from the last week in Columbia

The latest South Carolina Gamecocks news from the last week, starting with a few notes from the South Carolina football squad.

Head coach Shane Beamer has found a replacement for Pete Lembo (who took the head coaching job at the University of Buffalo), hiring long-time NFL assistant coach Joe DeCamillis as the team's special teams coordinator. He had coached over 30 years in the league as a special teams assistant.

The Gamecocks picked up two walk-on commitments. Running back/wide receiver/defensive back Neil Salvage and long snapper/defensive end/linebacker Gunnar Yocum pledged their services to the South Carolina football program.

Over the weekend, the Gamecocks had a big group of visitors on campus, including elite prospects like Jaylen Gilchrist (4-star offensive lineman), Jontae Gilbert (4-star defensive back), and Jared Smith (5-star EDGE).

Some former Gamecocks made news in the coaching world.

Former offensive line coach Eric Wolford was hired as the offensive line coach at Kentucky. This will be his second stint in Lexington.

Former Gamecock running back legend Duce Staley was hired as the new running backs coach for the Cleveland Browns.

Some former Gamecocks are on their way to the Super Bowl.

The San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs punched their tickets to the Super Bowl over the weekend, and three former Gamecocks are involved in the game. Deebo Samuel (WR/RB) and Javon Kinlaw (DT) will play for the '9ers, and Rod Wilson (Defensive Assistant Coach) will be on the Chiefs' sideline.

Lamont Paris' South Carolina basketball squad is rolling after two SEC wins at home.

The Gamecocks upset the 6th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats 79-62. The game was sold out, and Ta'Lon Cooper was the star, scoring 20 efficient points, leading the offense well at point guard, and playing elite perimeter defense. Lamont Paris also outcoached John Calipari in a big way.

They followed up the big win over UK with a home victory over the Missouri Tigers 72-64. BJ Mack bounced back from a tough game against Kentucky with 21 points to lead all scorers.

Dawn Staley's group picked up two big wins, as well.

The Gamecocks traveled to Baton Rouge and beat LSU 76-70. A bad 1st half rebounding gave way to a much better late-game effort, and Carolina overcame an 11-point deficit to win. USC set an SEC record with their 28th-straight road victory.

Carolina also beat a good Vanderbilt squad 91-74. Kamilla Cardoso scored a USC career-high 23 points in the win.

A couple of Gamecock basketball signees had good weeks.

Joyce Edwards and Maddy McDaniel officially were named McDonald's All-Americans.

Edwards also put up the best high school stat line of the season, scoring 52 points, grabbing 18 rebounds, dishing out 9 assists, swiping 8 steals, and blocking 5 shots.

Mark Kingston's South Carolina baseball team opened up spring practice this weekend with several scrimmages.

The Gamecocks played intrasquad scrimmages in front of fans. They are two and a half weeks away from first pitch as they play Miami (OH) in a 3-game series that starts on February 16th.