South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer left little room for ambiguity during Friday morning’s press conference, officially welcoming the Gamecocks’ new offensive staff and setting an unmistakable tone for the future.
“Today is absolutely a great day for South Carolina football,” Beamer said, praising the new hires as “fantastic men, fantastic coaches.” The event marked the formal introduction of offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, offensive line coach Randy “Clem” Clements, and running backs coach Stan Drayton—moves Beamer framed as purposeful responses to a season that failed to meet expectations.
A Reset on Offense
Beamer opened by acknowledging the difficulty of staff changes, noting that 15 players will graduate next week and that turnover is never painless.
“You have to make tough decisions that negatively impact people you care about,” Beamer said, adding that he hopes the departing assistants find success elsewhere.
Still, Beamer made it clear that the changes were necessary, especially on offense, as the program looks ahead to 2026.
“We fell short of expectations in ’25,” Beamer said. “A lot of people pointed at that and said the offense fell short of expectations.”
Why Kendal Briles Was the Choice
Beamer emphasized that South Carolina needed an offensive coordinator with experience and a proven résumé—not someone learning on the job.
“This wasn’t a job for on-the-job training,” Beamer said. “We wanted someone who had done it before and had been successful doing it.”
Briles’ track record stood out, particularly in areas where the Gamecocks struggled most.
“We’ve got to do a better job protecting the quarterback and being explosive,” Beamer said. “Kendal’s offenses have done that.”
Briles said he’s grateful for the opportunity and energized to be back in the SEC. He also revealed that Beamer consulted Rocket Sanders during the hiring process to help evaluate overall fit.
Alignment Across the Offense
Throughout the press conference, Beamer repeatedly emphasized cohesion, particularly between Briles and Clements. According to Beamer, Briles was insistent on bringing Clements with him as offensive line coach. While Beamer didn’t know Clements well beforehand, conversations with longtime coach Mack Brown helped seal the hire.
Clements—who prefers to go by “Clem”—made it clear that competition and evaluation will be immediate priorities.
“I want to come in with a fresh mindset, give everybody a chance to prove themselves, and see where everybody fits,” Clements said.
Stan Drayton Comes Full Circle
Beamer noted that Drayton is the type of running backs coach he’s been searching for since taking the South Carolina job in 2020. The two previously worked together at Mississippi State in 2004, and Beamer said Drayton has long been on his radar.
Drayton described his return to Columbia as “eerie,” recalling a past visit with Florida.
“I remember how loud it gets here,” Drayton said. “Football has raised our family in a lot of ways.”
Drayton will remain with Penn State through the Pinstripe Bowl before fully transitioning to South Carolina. Briles and Clements, however, will not coach TCU in the Alamo Bowl.
The LaNorris Sellers Question
Briles addressed the quarterback situation directly, particularly the uncertainty surrounding LaNorris Sellers.
“I’m probably not 100% in the loop on what’s going on with LaNorris,” Briles said. “He’s going to make a decision. I feel confident he’s going to be back here.”
Briles added that he has already spoken with Sellers and made the offensive plan clear.
“We’re going to build the offense around him and do the things that he’s really good at,” Briles said.
After reviewing last season’s film, Briles said the pieces are already in place.
“There are some really talented guys,” Briles said. “We’ve just got to fine-tune it a little bit.”
The Bottom Line
The message from Friday’s press conference was unmistakable: expectations have been set, accountability is in place, and patience will be limited. South Carolina’s offensive overhaul is officially underway—and there’s no grace period attached.
