So let's break down the OL portal situation....

[cofcgamecock9]

So I know we are all guessing to an extent, but basically there are two options (unless someone wants to add a 3rd) as to what is going on with pretty much all of our OL entering the portal.

1. The first option, which would be the positive option if you are a Gamecock fan, is that the coaches basically told them all to hit the road. Kendal Briles could have watched tape on them and thought that they didn't' fit his system. For example, our offensive lineman are pretty "hefty" guys. That is something several of us noticed last year. Maybe that was what Shula wanted. But maybe Kendal Briles doesn't like "fat" offensive lineman. I have no idea.. I am just putting it out there as a possibility.
So he could have respectfully told them that they were welcome to stay but maybe they weren't offered a good NIL deal and he told them they probably weren't going to play much.

2. The second option, which would be more concerning, is that our offensive lineman are being told they can get better "offers" at other schools and that other schools are going to offer them more money than SC is offering. That would be a more problematic scenario because it would mean that SC also isn't likely to pick up good offensive lineman in the portal if SC isn't paying the "going rate". So we could basically go into next year with a worse level of offensive lineman than we had this year. Face it, right now, it is all about how much are you willing to pay.

3. I guess there is a 3rd option that would be that our OL, as a group, just don't like it at SC. But I don't think that to be the case because I do think Beamer has a good culture. That is one thing that he does get right.

But make no mistake, the offensive line is going to be the key to whether or not SC succeeds in 2026.

 

[sclawman77]

Or they got together and decided to all leave because they feel scapegoated for all the offense's problems and want a fresh start. Or they liked the old coach that got fired and didn't like him being removed. I'm not turning them into victims but stating a possible scenario.

I don't know if the new staff wants 7 roster OL (all of them have started games) to leave regardless of their lack of ability. Maybe some just needed a better coach.

It is possible some were told to hit the road.

 

[RL09]

So I know we are all guessing to an extent, but basically there are two options (unless someone wants to add a 3rd) as to what is going on with pretty much all of our OL entering the portal.

1. The first option, which would be the positive option if you are a Gamecock fan, is that the coaches basically told them all to hit the road. Kendal Briles could have watched tape on them and thought that they didn't' fit his system. For example, our offensive lineman are pretty "hefty" guys. That is something several of us noticed last year. Maybe that was what Shula wanted. But maybe Kendal Briles doesn't like "fat" offensive lineman. I have no idea.. I am just putting it out there as a possibility.
So he could have respectfully told them that they were welcome to stay but maybe they weren't offered a good NIL deal and he told them they probably weren't going to play much.

2. The second option, which would be more concerning, is that our offensive lineman are being told they can get better "offers" at other schools and that other schools are going to offer them more money than SC is offering. That would be a more problematic scenario because it would mean that SC also isn't likely to pick up good offensive lineman in the portal if SC isn't paying the "going rate". So we could basically go into next year with a worse level of offensive lineman than we had this year. Face it, right now, it is all about how much are you willing to pay.

3. I guess there is a 3rd option that would be that our OL, as a group, just don't like it at SC. But I don't think that to be the case because I do think Beamer has a good culture. That is one thing that he does get right.

But make no mistake, the offensive line is going to be the key to whether or not SC succeeds in 2026.

I am good with Teasley prospects leaving as they were one of the very worst in the country as a unit collectively, it was extremely frustrating to see them be so perform so poorly year after year. I wish these young men well at their next school, but we need a fresh start. As far as I am concerned Greg Adkins can go as well.

 

[RL09]

I am good with Teasley prospects leaving as they were one of the very worst in the country as a unit collectively, it was extremely frustrating to see them perform so poorly year after year. I wish these young men well at their next school, but we need a fresh start. As far as I am concerned Greg Adkins can go as well.

 

[cofcgamecock9]

Or they got together and decided to all leave because they feel scapegoated for all the offense's problems and want a fresh start. Or they liked the old coach that got fired and didn't like him being removed. I'm not turning them into victims but stating a possible scenario.

I don't know if the new staff wants 7 roster OL (all of them have started games) to leave regardless of their lack of ability. Maybe some just needed a better coach.

It is possible some were told to hit the road.

I am sure if I was playing at SC and was on the offensive line last year, I would have felt "scapegoated" too as you put it. I guess that is a normal human reaction. But let's face it, they were pretty much the problem. Well, for those that just were not happy with Sellers play at all, let's put it a different way that still points finger at offensive line. You can have two things be true at the same time.

Sellers could have had accuracy problems and STILL had an offensive line that couldn't protect him for more than one second. Those can both be true. And I watched all of SC's games last year and the offensive line play was just extremely poor. So they really were the problem so to speak.

 

[kidrobinski]

Or they got together and decided to all leave because they feel scapegoated for all the offense's problems and want a fresh start. Or they liked the old coach that got fired and didn't like him being removed. I'm not turning them into victims but stating a possible scenario.

I don't know if the new staff wants 7 roster OL (all of them have started games) to leave regardless of their lack of ability. Maybe some just needed a better coach.

It is possible some were told to hit the road.

I’ve felt from the start that your first paragraph is the most plausible. In addition they were likely told they would be expected to get in a bit better shape for both scheme and durability.

I get the feeling the new regime ain’t playin.

 

[Go Gamecocks]

And I watched all of SC's games last year and the offensive line play was just extremely poor. So they really were the problem so to speak.

How many of those OL guys were starters in '24? How much of a turn for the worse did they make from '24?
That might give some insight.

 

[Psycock]

You would think they would have wanted to be here with Briles being a proven OC with solid results. It is a bit strange that all would leave though & with Duck in the fold - anybody left? Hit that portal hard!

 

[Go Gamecocks]

You would think they would have wanted to be here with Briles being a proven OC with solid results. It is a bit strange that all would leave though & with Duck in the fold - anybody left? Hit that portal hard!

Maybe their NILs took a hit?

 

[BeamerBall90]

So now Thompson is out. Do none of these highly recruited guys think they can play? I’m good with it but it will take time to rebuild. I’m good with that as well. Just saying, don’t expect too much next year, o-line depth is gone, will take a while to build. Portal could help but looks like an uphill climb.

 

[Sweetwatergolf]

So now Thompson is out. Do none of these highly recruited guys think they can play? I’m good with it but it will take time to rebuild. I’m good with that as well. Just saying, don’t expect too much next year, o-line depth is gone, will take a while to build. Portal could help but looks like an uphill climb.

Portal fund is not near enough most likely to compete with programs for the players we need. Your last statement is absolutely correct.

 

[JohnnySolo]

They are leaving because sellers cannot recognize coverage and protection. Can’t make adjustments so when he gets sacked the OL is blamed.

 

[Sweetwatergolf]

They are leaving because sellers cannot recognize coverage and protection. Can’t make adjustments so when he gets sacked the OL is blamed.

You could be correct. OC may have his hands full year one.

 

[cofcgamecock9]

They are leaving because sellers cannot recognize coverage and protection. Can’t make adjustments so when he gets sacked the OL is blamed.

No..l I am sorry but this is ridiculous. Sellers has nothing to do with the fact that SC's running backs get hit in the backfield more than any other team in the country. You can blame Sellers for a lot of things, but he didn't make the offensive line terrible. They were just terrible... I watched all of SC's games. Was Sellers perfect? No. Was he even "good" most of the time... No.

But if you also watched and you didn't realize that the offensive line held protections for all of about 1 second, then you are watching with biased eyes. Sellers didn't have clean pockets to throw from. Not at all.

The offensive line was terrible. I don't care if Tom Brady was back there. He would have gotten sacked a TON. And the running game was terrible too. Not because of the running backs, but because of the offensive line.

 

[Tngamecock]

They are leaving because sellers cannot recognize coverage and protection. Can’t make adjustments so when he gets sacked the OL is blamed.

Well 85% of the time they were to blame

 

[RL09]

No..l I am sorry but this is ridiculous. Sellers has nothing to do with the fact that SC's running backs get hit in the backfield more than any other team in the country. You can blame Sellers for a lot of things, but he didn't make the offensive line terrible. They were just terrible... I watched all of SC's games. Was Sellers perfect? No. Was he even "good" most of the time... No.

But if you also watched and you didn't realize that the offensive line held protections for all of about 1 second, then you are watching with biased eyes. Sellers didn't have clean pockets to throw from. Not at all.

The offensive line was terrible. I don't care if Tom Brady was back there. He wouldn't have gotten sacked a TON. And the running game was terrible too. Not because of the running backs, but because of the offensive line.

This is one of the most objective and accurate assessments I have seen with regards to our ol. Sure there were plenty of times Sellers held the ball too long, but cfcgamcock9 is correct, too many times defenders came through clean/unblocked, our ol was just putrid and has been for 5 years under the previous ol coach. Our new offensive coaching staff has given me cause for optimism, I am really looking forward to the next season, go gamecocks!

 

[kidrobinski]

You guys are giving the running backs and tight ends that we’d rotate back for protection free passes. Neither 22 nor 28 look like they even know HOW to block and 5 would just fall to the ground I guess in hopes that the guy would trip over him. One of the tight ends was decent; 44 oftentimes would rotate over and flare out looking for a pass instead of picking up their edge guy and sellers would get blown up. The running backs were ‘getting hit in the backfield’ because they mostly just lowered their heads and ran dead into the backs of our linemen without trying to slip in a gap.

There were many games where I thought the OL protected pretty well, absolutely long enough for sellers to get something off. I believe it’s a bit late in the game for sellers to be picking up playing quarterback, which is what he will need to do cause he don’t have it now; my opinion. I just hope we don’t fall into a sunk cost fallacy with him if it becomes apparent that its just not going to happen.

 

[cofcgamecock9]

You guys are giving the running backs and tight ends that we’d rotate back for protection free passes. Neither 22 nor 28 look like they even know HOW to block and 5 would just fall to the ground I guess in hopes that the guy would trip over him. One of the tight ends was decent; 44 oftentimes would rotate over and flare out looking for a pass instead of picking up their edge guy and sellers would get blown up. The running backs were ‘getting hit in the backfield’ because they mostly just lowered their heads and ran dead into the backs of our linemen without trying to slip in a gap.

There were many games where I thought the OL protected pretty well, absolutely long enough for sellers to get something off. I believe it’s a bit late in the game for sellers to be picking up playing quarterback, which is what he will need to do cause he don’t have it now; my opinion. I just hope we don’t fall into a sunk cost fallacy with him if it becomes apparent that its just not going to happen.

No. You were watching a different game than me. Offensive line was the problem all year long. They were terrible. They were absolutely the worst offensive line in college football. Not even close. I am sure running backs and tight ends missed lots of blocks too. As I said earlier, multiple things can be true at once.

But no, the Offensive line didn't do "decent" as you put it at any times. They were God Awful

 

[sclawman77]

Anyone know how many OL are on the current roster excluding the portal entrees? I'm too lazy to look. Also how many OL did we sign for '26 besides Gray?

 

[3USC1801]

Anyone know how many OL are on the current roster excluding the portal entrees? I'm too lazy to look. Also how many OL did we sign for '26 besides Gray?

I don’t know the answer to your questions but I recall in a news conference a few weeks back Beamer said they strive to have 17 scholarship OL on the team.

 

[Hoganman1]

If Indiana, who came out of nowhere; can build a really good offence line so can we.

 

[Slim Chickens Gamecock]

Have no fear- one of the headlines is that we have an OL from Cal Poly planning a visit. We need to get some beasts in that are ready to start, not projects

 

[Lurker123]

If Indiana, who came out of nowhere; can build a really good offence line so can we.

Do we have a billionaire alumni throwing money at the program, like IU?

 

[gpcocks]

Do we have a billionaire alumni throwing money at the program, like IU?

Nah, ours gave it all to the School of Business, and is presently trying to save the train wreck that is her home town of Lake City.

 

[cofcgamecock9]

Nah, ours gave it all to the School of Business, and is presently trying to save the train wreck that is her home town of Lake City.

If I recall correctly, didn't our BOT sort of make her mad about something? Maybe I am remembering that incorrectly but it seems like I recall she sort of stopped giving to SC because of a problem with the BOT.

 

[gpcocks]

If I recall correctly, didn't our BOT sort of make her mad about something? Maybe I am remembering that incorrectly but it seems like I recall she sort of stopped giving to SC because of a problem with the BOT.

Believe you're correct. Don't recall the details though. Someone here surely knows.

 

[ThinnyJ]

Portal fund is not near enough most likely to compete with programs for the players we need. Your last statement is absolutely correct.

Seems like to me that Beamer would be coming out of his own pocket to pay for some OLs for next year to help save his job.... He has costed the school too much money himself IMO. If he wants to be employed next year, I think he better come off the hip for some players.

 

[USCocks33]

I think the reality is that, with the exception of a couple that he would’ve liked to keep, Beamer is completely fine with the guys currently in the portal.

Unfortunately, the couple he would’ve liked to keep are getting bad advice about how much money they’re worth and we’re not going to be the ones to overpay for them.

 

[HI Cock1]

Nothing too terrible. I mean she gave the UofSC over $75 million and then the UofSC didn't even send her a condolence card when her mom died.

 

[sclawman77]

Anyone know how many OL are on the current roster excluding the portal entrees? I'm too lazy to look. Also how many OL did we sign for '26 besides Gray?

10 OL on roster now (that includes walkons) I heard this morning. Doesn't include '26 class guys (3 I think including Gray). Gray doesn't report until summer.

Didn't mean to reply to myself

 

[18IsTheMan]

I'll take some well-coached 2* and 3* OL vs very poorly coached 4* and 5*.

 

[Mr. Belvedere]

4-8 40 plus sacks...

 

[Gradstudent]

Have no fear- one of the headlines is that we have an OL from Cal Poly planning a visit. We need to get some beasts in that are ready to start, not projects

Michigan got a transfer OL from them last year, Norton, looks like he did not start in 2025.

I was wondering how they did in 2025, and looked it up, Cal Poly also went 4-8, LOL