South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer made a rare exception to his transfer portal policy when he allowed offensive lineman Josiah Thompson to return to the program after an 11-day departure—a decision rooted in their relationship and the unique circumstances surrounding the move.
Thompson, a five-star recruit who has started at left tackle for the past two seasons, entered the transfer portal on January 3 before withdrawing on January 14. The brief departure was both surprising and instructive about the evolving landscape of college athletics.
Beamer Was Blindsided by Initial Decision
Speaking at a February 4 press conference, Beamer revealed that Thompson’s portal entry caught him completely off guard, despite ongoing conversations between the two.
“I think every situation is different,” Beamer said. “I typically don’t (allow players back after entering the portal). The conversations I had went back before Christmas with Josiah … I’ll be honest I was completely blindsided and shocked when he called me to tell me he was going to enter the portal.”
Beamer said the two discussed Thompson’s reasoning, though they didn’t necessarily see eye to eye. Nonetheless, Beamer maintained his professionalism throughout the process.
“I was up front with Josiah that I’ll need to replace him and wished him well, leaving off on great terms,” Beamer explained.
Why Beamer Made an Exception
During Thompson’s 11 days in the portal, other coaches reached out to Beamer about the talented lineman. True to his word about parting on good terms, Beamer had nothing but positive things to say.
The conversation shifted when Thompson independently reached out about returning.
“To his credit he reached out to me on his own and we had a great conversation about possibility of coming back,” Beamer said. “Obviously at that point things had changed with more offensive linemen we brought in but I know what kind of young man Josiah is.”
South Carolina had already added six offensive linemen via the transfer portal during Thompson’s absence, complicating the situation.
Beamer emphasized that Thompson’s case was unique compared to other portal departures.
“We had other players just to be honest that went into the portal and reached out and wanted to come back and I said no,” Beamer revealed. “That happened on more than one occasion because of how they left, maybe they left for. Josiah, I wouldn’t put in that boat so typically I wouldn’t let them come back but I do believe every situation is different.”
The key difference, according to Beamer, was the nature of their communication and Thompson’s character.
“We had open and honest conversations where we shot each other straight,” Beamer said, adding that he believes Thompson makes South Carolina better.
Thompson’s Pedigree and Impact
The 6-foot-7, 300-pound lineman from Dillon, South Carolina, was the state’s No. 1 recruit and the nation’s No. 3 offensive tackle in the 2024 recruiting cycle. He ranked No. 35 nationally according to the 247Sports Composite.
His return provides South Carolina with a proven starter and high-level talent at a critical position.
Spring Game Uncertainty Due to Stadium Construction
In other program news, Beamer tempered expectations about the 2026 spring game, citing ongoing construction at Williams-Brice Stadium.
“I would not anticipate a spring game taking place in Williams-Brice Stadium … having said that, we’ve got the greatest fans in America. I always want to make sure we do right by our fans,” Beamer said.
While he promised more information would be forthcoming, Beamer made clear he doesn’t anticipate an actual game happening in the stadium.
Construction began almost immediately after the final game of the 2025 season as part of a comprehensive stadium renovation project. According to the university, the project will be completed in three phases between the 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028 football seasons, with the first phase targeted for completion by September 5, 2026—the home opener.
The renovation has been in development for over a year, with different aspects receiving approval throughout that period.
