We’re live here with updates from South Carolina as they prepare for their Citrus Bowl matchup against Illinois. Coach Shane Beamer spoke to the media today, and a key topic was the status of senior linebacker Bam Martin-Scott.
As many of you know, there’s been a lot of speculation surrounding Martin-Scott’s eligibility. He’s technically out of college eligibility, but the NCAA recently granted a 2025 waiver for former junior college athletes due to the recent court-granted injunction on behalf of Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia. This waiver allows seniors who spent a year at a junior college to have an extra year of eligibility.
However, Martin-Scott’s situation is a bit more complicated. He spent two years at a junior college – one year actively playing (2019) and another year sitting out due to the COVID-19 pandemic (2020).1 He has now completed his sixth year of college, while Pavia had only completed his fifth.
Coach Beamer was asked about any updates on Martin-Scott’s situation for next year. He responded, “No, we would love for that to happen. I don’t want to speak for him…I think he would tell you the same thing.” Beamer continued, “he would love to be able to do that, and we would love to be able to do that. We will see what happens. Hopefully, the NCAA will do the right thing.”
Shortly after Coach Beamer finished speaking, Martin-Scott himself addressed the media and was, of course, asked about his status for 2025. “We don’t know yet because my case is a little different than Pavia’s with me being older. [We’re] still going through the process, but I would love to come back. I love this program and like the trajectory it’s on. I would love to come back.” Martin-Scott also confirmed that both he and South Carolina have already filed the appeal for his extra year of eligibility.
This is a big deal for South Carolina. Martin-Scott had a strong 2024 season, finishing third on the team with 65 tackles.2 He also added 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two passes defended, and a fumble recovery. He likely could have pursued an NFL career as an undrafted free agent, but he has expressed his desire to return to the Gamecocks.
If the NCAA grants him a seventh year, Martin-Scott would be a strong contender for a starting role on next year’s defense. He played a significant role this past season, seeing action in all 12 regular season games and starting six of them.
Looking ahead to the linebacker room in 2025, rising sophomore Fred “JayR” Johnson and transfer portal addition Shawn Murphy are expected to be key contributors. Other returning players like Jaron Willis and Ronnie Porter could also compete for playing time. Several incoming freshmen from the 2025 recruiting class, including Donovan Darden, AJ Holloway, Taeshawn Alston, Josh Smith, and Jaquel Holman, will also be vying for reps and depth chart positions.
The decision on Martin-Scott’s eligibility will be one to watch as it will significantly impact South Carolina’s defense in 2025. We’ll continue to provide updates as they become available.
