South Carolina Reveals Starting Lineups for Home Opener vs. SC State
With just under half an hour before kickoff at Williams-Brice Stadium, South Carolina football officially unveiled its starting lineups for the 2025 home opener against in-state foe South Carolina State. The game, streaming exclusively on ESPN+ and SEC Network+, comes with some notable lineup adjustments from what the Gamecocks released earlier this week.
For the first time this season, South Carolina issued an official depth chart on Tuesday, but as warmups wrapped up Saturday evening, the videoboard confirmed several changes in the starting lineup — particularly on the offensive side of the ball.
South Carolina’s Announced Starters vs. SC State
Offense
- Quarterback: LaNorris Sellers
- Running backs: Oscar Adaway III, Rahsul Faison
- Wide receivers: Nyck Harbor, Mazeo Bennett, Donovan Murph
- Offensive line: LT Josiah Thompson, LG Shed Sarratt, C Boaz Stanley, RG Trovon Baugh, RT Cason Henry
- Tight end: Brady Hunt
Defense
- EDGE: Dylan Stewart, Bryan Thomas Jr.
- Defensive tackle: Nick Barrett, Monkell Goodwine, Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy
- Linebackers: JayR Johnson, Shawn Murphy
- Safeties: DQ Smith, Peyton Williams
- Cornerbacks: Myles Norwood, Brandon Cisse
- Nickelback: Jalon Kilgore
Special Teams
- Kicker: William Joyce
- Punter: Mason Love
- Long snapper: Cole Rasmussen
Key Lineup Changes
The most significant shake-up comes at left guard, where true freshman Shed Sarratt will make his debut as a starter. Sarratt, a former four-star recruit from Gaffney, SC, didn’t make the trip for last week’s opener against Virginia Tech due to injury but has since been cleared.
Head coach Shane Beamer highlighted the young lineman’s potential during his weekly Carolina Calls radio show:
“Shed is gonna be a really good player for us. He was not on the trip to Atlanta and was not healthy. He is this week. He’ll play this Saturday night, so it’s good to have him back as well, a young offensive lineman that’s got a big future.”
Last week, veteran Rodney Newsom Jr. opened at left guard before being replaced at halftime by Markee Anderson. With Sarratt now healthy, the Gamecocks appear ready to let him prove himself immediately.
Another change comes at wide receiver, where freshman Donovan Murph earned a starting nod. A product of nearby Irmo High School, Murph graduated early and joined the team over the summer. He impressed in camp and saw the field in Week 1, logging 26 snaps and hauling in a 21-yard reception for his first career catch.
Injury Updates
South Carolina remains without defensive back Judge Collier and edge rusher Jatius Geer, both of whom were injured in the Virginia Tech game. Beamer has maintained optimism about their status moving forward, saying he expects them back as early as next week’s matchup against Vanderbilt.
With Collier sidelined, Myles Norwood has stepped into the starting cornerback spot opposite Brandon Cisse. At EDGE, the duo of Dylan Stewart and Bryan Thomas Jr. continues to hold down starting duties in Geer’s absence.
Looking Ahead
The Gamecocks enter Saturday’s contest ranked No. 10 in the AP Poll and are heavy favorites against the visiting Bulldogs. Still, Beamer and his staff continue to use games like this to evaluate younger talent, and the starting roles for Sarratt and Murph showcase South Carolina’s willingness to trust its freshmen on the big stage.
With the home opener finally underway, all eyes will be on how these lineup changes impact the Gamecocks’ rhythm as they look to build momentum heading into SEC play.
