In his early weeks as South Carolina’s athletic director, Jeremiah Donati has made two significant moves: showing strong support for Gamecocks head women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley and football coach Shane Beamer by offering them long-term contract extensions.
Staley had already earned a championship before Donati arrived in Columbia, while Beamer had started building his program four years earlier.
By giving both coaches contract extensions, Donati took a popular step to win over the Gamecock fanbase.
South Carolina’s AD expressed confidence in the direction Beamer has taken the football program in the state.
“The culture and commitment to excellence that Coach Beamer has built in our football program shows that we are headed in the right direction and on a strong upward trajectory,” Donati remarked in a statement, according to The State. “Coach Beamer has made clear his desire to be at the University of South Carolina and this extension shows our collective support for him as the leader of our football program.”
Beamer’s Gamecocks were among the College Football Playoff’s “snubs,” though it could be argued that a three-loss team was unlikely to get a spot in a field that only invited teams with two losses or fewer. South Carolina’s loss to Illinois in a thrilling Citrus Bowl, a game famous for Bret Bielema’s mid-game trolling and Beamer’s passionate reaction, ended their season.
Following a 9-3 regular season and with quarterback LaNorris Sellers drawing comparisons to Cam Newton, Beamer is enjoying a surge of popularity in central South Carolina. His contract includes a $5 million buyout if he leaves in 2025, with the buyout decreasing by $1 million each subsequent year, offering a financial cushion if a higher-paying job comes calling.
Overall, Donati has had a successful first month in his new role.
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South Carolina Gamecock Freshman Ready to make an immediate impact
South Carolina Gamecocks are no strangers to freshmen stepping up and making an immediate impact, with standout performances last season from Dylan Stewart and Josiah Thompson, both of whom were named to the SEC All-Freshman team. Stewart even earned a spot as a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. With that in mind, the question arises: which freshmen from the 2025 class will have a similar impact?
The answer could lie in wide receivers Malik Clark and Lex Cyrus, who are poised to contribute early. Last year, the Gamecocks struggled to have a wide receiver exceed 400 yards, so Clark and Cyrus will be crucial in helping their talented quarterback, LaNorris Sellers, find success. Both are dynamic deep threats who could provide Sellers with much-needed options on the field.
Clark, a four-star recruit ranked as the second-best player in South Carolina by 247Sports, is known for his speed, having clocked a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the Under Armour Next camp. Meanwhile, Cyrus, also a four-star recruit from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is a former track star with a personal best of 10.4 seconds in the 100 meters. His ability to stretch the field will be a significant asset to the offense.
Another name to watch is Shedrick Sarratt Jr., a promising four-star offensive tackle who could quickly step into a starting role following Vershon Lee’s decision to enter the NFL draft. With a solid 6-foot-4, 300-pound frame, Sarratt is ranked as the fifth-best player in South Carolina by 247Sports and is a prime candidate to solidify the right tackle position in 2025.
South Carolina’s 2025 recruiting class is currently ranked 22nd in the nation by 247Sports, with a total of 18 new recruits joining the roster. As the season progresses, we’ll see if any of these freshmen can follow in the footsteps of players like Stewart and make an immediate impact for the Gamecocks.
