South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer announced another tough blow to the Gamecocks’ EDGE depth Tuesday, confirming that transfer pass rusher George Wilson will be sidelined with a significant injury.
“No new injury updates that are long-term other than George Wilson, an EDGE transfer that was going to play for us this season, he’s going to be out for a while as well, which is unfortunate,” Beamer said during his weekly press conference. “We’ve kind of gotten hit pretty good at that one spot, which is disappointing from a depth standpoint. But a lot of guys that are there that are competing and working to get better.”
Wilson, a senior transfer from Campbell, was expected to make an immediate impact this fall. Now, his timeline is unclear, but Beamer hinted that the program is already preparing for the possibility that Wilson could return in 2026.
“We’ll see what happens this year, but we’re already working to get him back in 2026, absolutely, if we’re not able to get him back in 2025,” Beamer explained. “Disappointing for him to not be ready to go right now and to be out for a little bit, but like I told him, you try to find the positive in everything. Maybe this is a positive because you didn’t get here until June, and now you have a chance—if you’re not able to get back in 2025—to have an entire offseason in the weight room where you should be an even better version of yourself in 2026.”
For Wilson, the setback is especially frustrating given the full-circle moment he was hoping to experience in Columbia. Originally committed to South Carolina out of high school more than five years ago, Wilson decommitted after Will Muschamp’s firing and signed with Florida State. After two years in Tallahassee, he transferred to Campbell, where he developed into a disruptive edge rusher.
In 2023, Wilson played in all 11 games for the Fighting Camels, recording 21 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and a team-high four sacks. He followed that up last season with 18 tackles, six tackles for loss, and five sacks in 12 games.
With one final year of eligibility, Wilson entered the transfer portal to test himself at the Power 4 level—only to be contacted by the school he once pledged to.
“I got in the portal and coach Sterl Luc called me and I thought it was a no-brainer,” Wilson told GamecockCentral earlier this summer. “I wanted to be at South Carolina out of high school, and I thought it was a no-brainer, so I just ended the deal there.”
The Gamecocks have been hit hard at EDGE this preseason. Just last week, Beamer confirmed that freshman Kobby Sakyi-Prah suffered a “somewhat long-term” lower-body injury. Earlier in camp, Beamer also noted that EDGE Jaylen Brown, offensive lineman Ryan Brubaker, defensive lineman Caleb Williams, and defensive back Zahbari Sandy are all sidelined with injuries that will keep them out for extended stretches.
Beamer added Tuesday that there are still no new updates on incoming transfer running back Rahsul Faison and his eligibility status.
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