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*** If you missed our behind the scenes notes from the first team meeting on Monday, make sure you check those out here.
Obviously, Shane Beamer's first course of action once he arrived in Columbia was to immediately meet with South Carolina's current on-field and other key staff and to address the team.
Our understanding is that meetings with support staffers are continuing today; Beamer is still in the building today working on South Carolina matters.
As Wes reported last night, two on-field coaches - Travaris Robinson and Kyle Krantz - have been dismissed. Other changes are expected, but those are stalled for the time being while a variety of things play out over the next couple weeks.
*** While there will be transfers from the current roster, it's important for the future of the program that South Carolina retains a large chunk of young talent on the roster, guys that will be pivotal to success in the future.
Two of those guys are players we've received plenty of questions about already in the aftermath of the Beamer hire, former five-stars Jordan Burch and Marshawn Lloyd.
While it's natural to wonder about both given their talent level and importance to the future, there's nothing to concrete to report at this point. Our understanding through speaking with multiple sources is that Burch has really enjoyed his experience at South Carolina and has become friends with fellow teammates. There are no indications that he's personally looking to make a jump at this point, in other words.
As for Lloyd, multiple sources tell us that while nothing is certain, that he is saying all the right things to people associated with the team and university regarding sticking around. It's important to note that Lloyd has not yet had a chance to meet with Beamer given the early nature of the hire and there are still staff moves to shake out and the like, but that's the early word.
*** One thing to keep in mind regarding Beamer and his initial recruiting efforts for South Carolina: he has extensive recruiting experience in the Carolinas, Georgia, and in the DMV area, and recruited in the Carolinas and the DMV for Oklahoma. He already has relationships with prospects - some of them already carrying South Carolina offers under the previous staff - in those areas.With recruiting completely virtual until April as far as contact between coaches and prospects, he'll be able to tap into some of those relationships right away.
We know that Beamer's recruiting plan is going to place a heavy emphasis on the Carolinas; South Carolina is certainly behind in the Palmetto State for the 2022 class overall and there's plenty of work to be done in North Carolina as well. There are - and will be more - several prospects identified in those states that the new staff will be working.
Beamer already has familiarity with several players in the Palmetto State and recruited at least a couple of them to Oklahoma, such as Greer's Jaleel Skinner.
Another player in the 2022 class that's obviously key is quarterback commitment Gunner Stockton, and there's an existing familiarity between Beamer and Stockton as well.
*** As we hear of contacts being made with prospects, we'll pass along that information to our subscribers here at GamecockCentral.com.
Here's one very early name to file away as a guy to watch; Oscar Delp out of West Forsyth in Georgia. His stock has been on the rise lately, with over 20 schools now on board with scholarships.
While Oklahoma had not yet extended a scholarship with Beamer on staff, there has been communication for a while now between the two.
We can tell you that Delp likes Beamer from a personal standpoint.
There are Gamecock ties here, too. Delp's mother attended the University of South Carolina, he has family in Columbia, and grew up a big fan of the Gamecocks.
The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder has not been hearing from South Carolina to date, but look for that to change soon.
*** Any follow-up questions or something I didn't address that you'd like me to address? Let me know.
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