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Shane Beamer reveals how South Carolina kept Matt Fuller away from transfer portal

The Gamecock running back is expected to have a breakout season in 2026.
ByMorgan Moriarty|
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Nov 1, 2025; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks running back Matt Fuller (28) runs the ball as Mississippi Rebels linebacker Princewill Umanmielen (1) attempts to make the tackle during the second quarter at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Nov 1, 2025; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks running back Matt Fuller (28) runs the ball as Mississippi Rebels linebacker Princewill Umanmielen (1) attempts to make the tackle during the second quarter at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

The South Carolina Gamecocks recently wrapped up their spring football season last week. One of South Carolina's biggest returning stars on offense, running back, redshirt sophomore Matt Fuller, had a fantastic spring. 

Although the Gamecocks had a down 4-8 year last season, Fuller was a bright spot, getting 72 carries for 260 yards with two touchdowns. Apparently his season was so impressive that the running back apparently had interest from schools to enter the transfer portal, per Gamecock head coach Shane Beamer. 

On Thursday, Beamer spoke on an Inside The Gamecocks podcast, and revealed that Fuller could have entered the portal this offseason. 

"There's a reason he really didn't play that much but was a very hot commodity in the transfer portal," Beamer said of Fuller, as transcribed by The Big Spur. "Even though he wasn't in the transfer portal - which is a whole other story - with some schools in other conferences. He's a talented guy."

Even before he arrived in Columbia, Fuller was a highly-touted recruit coming out of high school in Jesup, Ga. Per the 247Sports Composite, Fuller was a four-star prospect and ranked as the nation's No. 33 running back in the class of 2024. He held offers from several other power-conference schools like Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Iowa State, Minnesota and UCF. 

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Fuller will have to fill the shoes of departing running back Rahsul Faison this season. Beamer added that he is expected to be running back No. 1 on the depth chart coming out of spring ball. 

"Feel like Matt's running back one coming out of the spring," Beamer added. "He needs to go have a great summer. All those guys have the skill set and ability to help us go win games. You need depth at that position. … It's nice being able to have multiple guys that you feel like you can win with."

The expectations surrounding South Carolina offensively are sky high heading into 2026. The Gamecocks return star quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who is expected to thrive in new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles' system. The Gamecocks also landed several big-time offensive linemen from the transfer portal such as tackle Jacarrius Peak from NC State, Emmanuel Poku from East Carolina and Carter Miller from UCF. 

While there's no way to know for certain at this point if Fuller even considered entering the transfer portal this offseason, South Carolina fans are grateful he is returning in 2026.   

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