Shane Beamer impressed by Chad Terrell’s spring game performance
Chad Terrell hasn’t gotten many opportunities at South Carolina since arriving on campus in 2017.
The sixth-year’s career has been plagued with injuries, most notably the tearing of his left ACL in 2018 and then the right two years later.
It’s resulted in him logging only seven catches in his time at South Carolina.
Despite this Terrell hasn’t given up, and jumped at the opportunity to return this season.
“No matter what you gotta push through it,” Terrell said. “Some days are harder than others but the way I’ve done it is just always look for the end of it and just kept my head positive. That’s the only way to do it.”
After only appearing in four games last season, Shane Beamer said that Terrell was one of the older guys on the roster he challenged to step up in 2022.
“Last year was his fifth year in the program, he wasn’t playing,” South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer said. “He was on the scout team in his fifth year, a lot of guys would have walked away.”
Beamer said that Terrell was one of the older players who he challenged in the off-season to step up and improve in spring practice.
Terrell must’ve listened, he led all receivers in the Garnet and Black spring game with four catches for 49 yards and a touchdown.
“He’s put himself in a position to play this fall, just really proud of Chad,” Beamer said.
Terrell said the touchdown reception was “relieving” and a reflection of all the hard work he put in during spring practice.
Not only was Terrell challenged to improve as a player, he was also faced with the obstacle of playing a new position.
With the lack of tight ends available during the spring, Beamer said that talked Terrell into becoming a tight end.
“He’s unselfish,” Beamer said. “I mean think about it, sixth year in the program, you’ve been a receiver for five years and then you’re asked all of a sudden to come in here to start blocking Jordan Burch, Jordan Strachan, and all the defensive ends and the things that tight ends do, it’s amazing.”
Terrell said the decision to switch to tight end came about a week before spring ball started. Since then he’s spent lots of time learning and adapting to his new position.
“I definitely knew I had to go over a whole lot of stuff and just try to keep up because if I didn’t, I would have absolutely no idea what I was doing,” Terrell joked. “I’m just doing everything possible for me to know exactly what I’m doing and just be able to help effect like whatever we’re doing as a team and just make an impact.”
Beamer praised his commitment to the change, saying that every night Terrell can be found on the practice field running through his responsibilities for the next day’s practice.
This extra work was the reason Terrell was awarded the South Carolina Spirit Award during halftime, Beamer said.
“He’s bought into his role and has earned an opportunity now to play more this season,” Beamer said.
Terrell will continue to fight for playing time once the team returns to practice this summer but for now, he said the work starts “as soon as possible.”
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