New Play-Caller in the House: Mike Furrey Takes Over Playcalling Duties at South Carolina Gamecocks Football
COLUMBIA — After a turbulent offensive season, the South Carolina Gamecocks have made a firm move: wide receivers coach Mike Furrey will serve as the primary play-caller down the stretch of 2025. (247Sports)
🏈 What Led to This Change
The shake-up began when offensive coordinator Mike Shula was relieved of his play-calling duties amid mounting offensive struggles. The Gamecocks ranked dead last in the SEC in scoring, total offense and rushing yardage, and near the bottom in several other key metrics. (On3)
Head coach Shane Beamer confirmed the move, explaining that while the plan remains collaborative, Furrey will be the on-field voice of the offense for upcoming games. “The primary play-caller will be Mike Furrey,” Beamer said. (247Sports)
Why Mike Furrey?
Furrey steps into the role with a unique background:
- He joined the Gamecocks as WR coach in spring 2024 and added the title of Passing Game Coordinator in December. (247Sports)
- His résumé includes NFL playing experience, coaching stops in college and the NFL, and he has previously called plays at the collegiate level. Beamer cited his experience, energy and confidence as key reasons for the promotion. (247Sports)
- The move signals confidence in his ability to lead the offense tactically and communicate on game day.
What This Means for the Offense Now
With Furrey as the in-game signal-caller, the Gamecocks are aiming for a reset in how they operate on offense:
- The passing game will likely get more direct oversight from Furrey, given his WR/passing coordinator background.
- Though Furrey will call the plays, the game-plan remains a collaborative effort among the offensive staff — meaning players and assistant coaches still have roles in scheming and adjustments. (SI)
- This change comes with urgency: South Carolina must finish 2025 strong, and how Furrey manages the next few games could set the tone for 2026 and beyond.
Things to Watch
- Quarterback Fit: Furrey will be tasked with developing and maximizing the potential of his signal-caller, reportedly second-year starter LaNorris Sellers. How he adapts will be telling.
- Run vs. Pass Balance: The offense’s identity will be under scrutiny — will Furrey lean into his passing strengths or emphasize balance to fix the team’s rushing shortfalls?
- Recruiting/Continuity: The transition could impact recruiting messages (especially offensive skill-position players). Stability at play-caller is often a recruit’s consideration.
- Impact in Remaining Games: With the play-caller switch coming late in the season, Furrey’s immediate results matter. Will the offense show measurable improvement?
✅ Final Take
Mike Furrey’s elevation to primary play-caller marks a decisive moment for South Carolina’s offense. The move reflects an attempt to arrest the slide under Shula and inject new energy into a unit that’s underperformed. While he steps in with some of the burden of rebuilding momentum, his background and promotion suggest the staff believes he’s the right fit for the job. How he performs from here will have ramifications well beyond the final games of 2025.
If you like, I can dig into what changes Furrey has already proposed for the offense and which assistants might shift roles under him.
