The 2021 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season marked the Gamecocks' 128th overall season, and 30th as a member of the SEC East Division. The Gamecocks played their home games at Williams–Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina, and were led by first-year head coach Shane Beamer.
2021 South Carolina Gamecocks football | |
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Duke's Mayo Bowl champion | |
Duke's Mayo Bowl, W 38–21 vs. North Carolina | |
Conference | Southeastern Conference |
East Division | |
Record | 7–6 (3–5 SEC) |
Head coach |
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Offensive coordinator | Marcus Satterfield (1st season) |
Offensive scheme | Spread |
Defensive coordinator | Clayton White (1st season) |
Base defense | 4–2–5 |
Home stadium | Williams–Brice Stadium |
Uniform | |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eastern Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 1 Georgia x#^ | 8 | – | 0 | 14 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 18 Kentucky* | 5 | – | 3 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tennessee | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Missouri | 3 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South Carolina | 3 | – | 5 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Florida | 2 | – | 6 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vanderbilt | 0 | – | 8 | 2 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Western Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 2 Alabama x$^ | 7 | – | 1 | 13 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 11 Ole Miss | 6 | – | 2 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 21 Arkansas | 4 | – | 4 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mississippi State | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Texas A&M | 4 | – | 4 | 8 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Auburn | 3 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LSU | 3 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship: Alabama 41, Georgia 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In what was later deemed 2021's best season by a first-year head coach,[1] South Carolina compiled a record of 7–6.[2] The Gamecocks played in their first bowl game since 2018 and won their first bowl game since 2017, defeating North Carolina in the Duke's Mayo Bowl 38–21.[3] Home games also returned to full capacity,[4] though that capacity was now slightly reduced due to renovations.[5]
Background
editNew head coach announced
editOn December 6, 2020, Oklahoma assistant head coach Shane Beamer was announced as the Gamecocks 36th head coach. A former Gamecock assistant coach and recruiting coordinator under Steve Spurrier from 2007 to 2010, he is also the son of long time Virginia Tech Head coach Frank Beamer. Beamer was born in Charleston, South Carolina, after graduating from Virginia Tech, he was a graduate assistant at Georgia Tech, and Tennessee, before becoming an assistant coach at Mississippi State. Beamers other stops as an assistant included Virginia Tech and Georgia. Notable recruits signed during Beamer's time as recruiting coordinator at South Carolina included Alshon Jeffery, Stephon Gilmore, and D. J. Swearinger.[6]
Beamer cleaned out the staff from the Muschamp era, hiring Marcus Satterfield from the Carolina Panthers as Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Clayton White from NC State as Defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach, and a slew of other hires including Pete Lembo as Associate head coach/special teams coordinator and Hammond coach and former Gamecock QB Erik Kimrey as Tight ends coach. Defensive backs coach Torrian Gray was hired away from Florida, and Wide receivers coach Justin Stepp was hired away from Arkansas.
Preseason
editOffseason departures
editName | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jaycee Horn | #1 | CB | 6'1 | 205 | Junior | Alpharetta, Georgia | Declared for NFL Draft |
Ernest Jones | #53 | LB | 6'2 | 230 | Junior | Waycross, Georgia | Declared for NFL Draft |
Shi Smith | #13 | WR | 5'10 | 190 | Senior | Union, South Carolina | Declared for NFL Draft |
Israel Mukuamu | #24 | CB | 6'4 | 205 | Junior | Bossier City, Louisiana | Declared for NFL Draft |
Ryan Hilinski | #3 | QB | 6'3 | 225 | Sophomore | Orange, California | Transferred |
Jay Urich | #10 | QB | 6'5 | 215 | RS Junior | Greenville, South Carolina | Graduated |
Collin Hill | #15 | QB | 6'4 | 222 | Graduate | Moore, South Carolina | Graduated |
Deshaun Fenwick | #14 | RB | 6'1 | 220 | RS Sophomore | Bradenton, Florida | Transferred |
Slade Carroll | #33 | RB | 5'9 | 205 | RS Senior | Lexington, South Carolina | Graduated |
Adam Prentice | #46 | FB | 6'0 | 245 | Graduate | Fresno, California | Graduated |
Christian Kinsley | #36 | P | 6'2 | 220 | RS Senior | Lexington, South Carolina | Graduated |
KeShawn Toney | #82 | TE | 6'2 | 248 | RS Freshman | Williston, South Carolina | Transferred |
Will Register | #88 | TE | 6'4 | 245 | RS Junior | Chapin, South Carolina | Graduated |
Sadarius Hutcherson | #50 | OL | 6'4 | 320 | RS Senior | Huntingdon, Tennessee | Graduated |
Keir Thomas | #5 | DL | 6'2 | 275 | RS Senior | Miami, Florida | Transferred |
Chandler Farrell | #31 | TE | 6'3 | 278 | RS Senior | Summerville, South Carolina | Graduated |
Jammie Robinson | #7 | DB | 5'11 | 195 | Sophomore | Leesburg, Georgia | Transferred |
Shilo Sanders | #21 | DB | 6'0 | 195 | RS Freshman | Cedar Hill, Texas | Transferred |
John Dixon | #22 | DB | 6'0 | 185 | Sophomore | Tampa, Florida | Transferred |
Personnel
editCoaching staff
editName | Position | Consecutive season |
---|---|---|
Shane Beamer | Head coach | 1st |
Marcus Satterfield | Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach | 1st |
Clayton White | Defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach | 1st |
Pete Lembo | Associate head coach/special teams coordinator | 1st |
Torrian Gray | Defensive backs coach | 1st |
Montario Hardesty | Running backs coach | 1st |
Greg Adkins | Offensive line coach | 1st |
Justin Stepp | Wide receivers coach | 1st |
Erik Kimrey | Tight ends coach | 1st |
Mike Peterson | Outside linebackers coach | 5th |
Jimmy Lindsey | Defensive line coach | 1st |
Notable support staff
editName | Position | Consecutive season |
---|---|---|
Luke Day | Head strength and conditioning coach | 1st |
Connor Shaw | Director of football relations | 1st (2nd overall) |
Derrick Moore | Executive director of character and player development | 1st |
Roster
edit2021 South Carolina Gamecocks Football Roster | ||||||||||
Quarterback
Running back
Wide receiver
Placekicker
Punter |
Tight end
Offensive Lineman
Defensive Lineman
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EDGE
Linebacker
Defensive back
Long snappers | ||||||||
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Schedule
editDate | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 4 | 7:00 p.m. | Eastern Illinois* | ESPN /SECN | W 46–0 | 64,868 | |||
September 11 | 12:00 p.m. | at East Carolina* | ESPN2 | W 20–17 | 40,816 | |||
September 18 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 2 Georgia | ESPN | L 13–40 | 92,746 | |||
September 25 | 7:00 p.m. | Kentucky |
| ESPN2 | L 10–16 | 77,559 | ||
October 2 | 3:30 p.m. | Troy* |
| SECN | W 23–14 | 60,686 | ||
October 9 | 12:00 p.m. | at Tennessee | ESPN2 | L 20–45 | 89,437 | |||
October 16 | 4:00 p.m. | Vanderbilt |
| SECN | W 21–20 | 64,695 | ||
October 23 | 7:30 p.m. | at No. 17 Texas A&M | SECN | L 14–44 | 103,889 | |||
November 6 | 7:30 p.m. | Florida |
| SECN | W 40–17 | 70,131 | ||
November 13 | 4:00 p.m. | at Missouri |
| SECN | L 28–31 | 44,092 | ||
November 20 | 7:00 p.m. | Auburn |
| ESPN | W 21–17 | 70,299 | ||
November 27 | 7:30 p.m. | No. 23 Clemson* |
| SECN | L 0–30 | 79,897 | ||
December 30 | 11:30 a.m. | vs. North Carolina* | ESPN | W 38–21 | 45,520 | |||
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Game summaries
editVs. Eastern Illinois
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eastern Illinois | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
South Carolina | 15 | 14 | 3 | 14 | 46 |
at Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, South Carolina
Game information |
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|
Statistics | EIU | SC |
---|---|---|
First downs | 9 | 22 |
Plays–yards | 44–109 | 74–439 |
Rushes–yards | 31 | 254 |
Passing yards | 78 | 185 |
Passing: comp–att–int | 13–22–2 | 18–27–0 |
Time of possession | 25:20 | 34:40 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
EIU | Passing | Chris Katrenick | 13/22, 78 yards, 2 INT |
Rushing | Harrison Bey-Bule | 5 carries, 12 yards | |
Receiving | Tyler Hamilton | 5 receptions, 32 yards | |
SC | Passing | Zeb Noland | 13/21, 121 yards, 4 TD |
Rushing | ZaQuandre White | 12 carries, 128 yards, TD | |
Receiving | ZaQuandre White | 4 receptions, 39 yards, TD |
At East Carolina
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
South Carolina | 0 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 20 |
East Carolina | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, North Carolina
- Date: Saturday, September 11, 2021
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Sunny • Temperature - 78 °F (26 °C)
- Game attendance: 40,816
- Referee: Alex Moore
- TV announcers (ESPN2): Brian Custer (play-by-play), Kelly Stouffer (color) and Lauren Sisler (sideline)
- Box Score
Game information |
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|
Statistics | SC | ECU |
---|---|---|
First downs | 15 | 12 |
Plays–yards | 63–325 | 63–268 |
Rushes–yards | 100 | 116 |
Passing yards | 225 | 152 |
Passing: comp–att–int | 13–24–1 | 12–25–2 |
Time of possession | 18:57 | 41:03 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
SC | Passing | Zeb Noland | 13/24, 225 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | JuJu McDowell | 11 carries, 71 yards | |
Receiving | Josh Vann | 5 receptions, 127 yards | |
ECU | Passing | Holton Ahlers | 11/24, 77 yards, 2 INT |
Rushing | Rahjai Harris | 14 carries, 70 yards | |
Receiving | Jsi Hatfield | 2 receptions, 90 yards, 1 TD |
At #2 Georgia
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
South Carolina | 6 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
No. 2 Georgia | 14 | 12 | 14 | 0 | 40 |
at Sanford Stadium • Athens, Georgia
- Date: Saturday, September 18, 2021
- Game time: 7:10 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Mostly Cloudy • Temperature - 77 °F (25 °C) • Wind - SSE at 5MPH[10]
- Game attendance: 92,746
- TV announcers (ESPN): Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (color) and Molly McGrath (sideline)
- Box Score
Game information |
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|
Statistics | SC | UGA |
---|---|---|
First downs | 13 | 26 |
Plays–yards | 63–296 | 66–491 |
Rushes–yards | 82 | 184 |
Passing yards | 214 | 307 |
Passing: comp–att–int | 24–29–1 | 24–35–2 |
Time of possession | 31:58 | 28:02 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
SC | Passing | Luke Doty | 13/26, 153 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | ZaQuandre White | 5 carries, 31 yards | |
Receiving | Josh Vann | 3 receptions, 128 yards, 1 TD | |
UGA | Passing | JT Daniels | 23/31, 303 yards, 3 TD |
Rushing | Kendall Milton | 10 carries, 66 yards | |
Receiving | Adonai Mitchell | 4 receptions, 77 yards, 1 TD |
Vs. Kentucky
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kentucky | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
South Carolina | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
at Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, South Carolina
Game information |
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|
Statistics | UK | SC |
---|---|---|
First downs | 22 | 12 |
Plays–yards | 66–332 | 51–216 |
Rushes–yards | 230 | 58 |
Passing yards | 102 | 158 |
Passing: comp–att–int | 15–22–1 | 17–25–0 |
Time of possession | 35:36 | 24:24 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
UK | Passing | Will Levis | 15/22, 102 yards, INT |
Rushing | Chris Rodriguez Jr. | 26 carries, 144 yards | |
Receiving | Wan'Dale Robinson | 7 receptions, 65 yards | |
SC | Passing | Luke Doty | 17/25, 158 yards, TD |
Rushing | Kevin Harris | 12 carries, 38 yards | |
Receiving | Jalen Brooks | 4 receptions, 63 yards, TD |
Vs. Troy
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Troy | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
South Carolina | 3 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 23 |
at Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, South Carolina
- Date: Saturday, October 2, 2021
- Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Sunny • Temperature - 84°F
- Game attendance: 60,866
- Referee: Alex Moore
- TV announcers (SEC Network): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (color analyst), and Alyssa Lang (sideline)
- Box Score
Game information |
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|
Statistics | TROY | SC |
---|---|---|
First downs | 21 | 19 |
Plays–yards | 69–308 | 62–356 |
Rushes–yards | 145 | 101 |
Passing yards | 163 | 255 |
Passing: comp–att–int | 22–38–2 | 20–34–0 |
Time of possession | 29:22 | 30:38 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
TROY | Passing | Taylor Powell | 22/38, 163 yards, 2 INT |
Rushing | B.J. Smith | 19 carries, 102 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Tez Johnson | 6 receptions, 49 yards | |
SC | Passing | Luke Doty | 20/34, 255 yards, TD |
Rushing | Josh Vann | 2 carries, 52 yards | |
Receiving | Kevin Harris | 2 receptions, 49 yards |
At Tennessee
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
South Carolina | 0 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 20 |
Tennessee | 28 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 45 |
at Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, Tennessee
- Date: Saturday, October 9, 2021
- Game time: 12:00 p.m.. EST
- Game weather: Sunny • Temperature - 70°F
- Game attendance: 89,437
- Referee: James Carter
- TV announcers (ESPN2): Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Mike Golic Jr. (color) and Taylor McGregor (sideline)
- Box Score
Game information |
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|
Statistics | SC | TENN |
---|---|---|
First downs | 22 | 24 |
Plays–yards | 75–370 | 72–472 |
Rushes–yards | 153 | 247 |
Passing yards | 217 | 225 |
Passing: comp–att–int | 21–34–1 | 17–23–0 |
Time of possession | 33:55 | 26:05 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
SC | Passing | Luke Doty | 19/31, 167 yards |
Rushing | Kevin Harris | 16 carries, 61 yards, 2 TD | |
Receiving | Payton Mangrum | 1 reception, 44 yards, TD | |
TENN | Passing | Hendon Hooker | 17/23, 225 yards, 3 TD |
Rushing | Tiyon Evans | 16 carries, 119 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Velus Jones Jr. | 6 receptions, 103 yards, TD |
Vs. Vanderbilt
editRankings
editWeek | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
AP | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Coaches | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
CFP | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |
References
edit- ^ Diaz, Cory (January 18, 2022). "Shane Beamer a Steve Spurrier National First-Year Coach of the Year". Greenville Online. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- ^ "2021 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ "South Carolina Gamecocks Bowls". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ Boynton, Eric. "University of South Carolina planning for full stadium capacity during 2021 football season". Spartanburg Herald Journal. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
- ^ "Williams-Brice Stadium". University of South Carolina Athletics. June 4, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
- ^ "Beamer named head football coach at South Carolina". Retrieved August 29, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Football Coaching staff". Retrieved February 9, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Football Roster". Retrieved August 29, 2021.
- ^ "2021 South Carolina Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
- ^ "Atlanta, GA Weather History | Weather Underground".