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The South Carolina Gamecocks will take on the Illinois Fighting Illini in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Eve. Reserve signal caller Robby Ashford will be available for action.
The quarterback’s status for the postseason matchup was briefly in doubt given his decision to enter the transfer portal. Shane Beamer is making an exception to his rule of booting players that intend to leave.
He set the precedent earlier this season with linebacker Bangally Kamara. The defender was in his debut season with the Gamecocks. He saw his snap count increase throughout each of his four appearances. Still, the senior opted to shut his season down early.
Ultimately, Beamer told him the walk if he wanted to go through with his redshirt decision. Kamara left the team in October and will look for a new opportunity next season.
“My job is to do what’s best for the team… In the end, I made the decision for him that it was probably best to move on.”
-Shane Beamer
Like Kamara, Robby Ashford transferred to South Carolina this past offseason. Unlike the linebacker, Ashford remained with the team throughout the year’s entirety before making his transfer decision.
The passer saw action in eight games this year, totaling 348 passing yards and two scores. He added a pair of rushing touchdowns, one of which came in his lone start vs. Akron.
Knowing that he’d likely be unable to surpass starter LaNorris Sellers on the depth chart in 2025, he chose to enter the portal ahead of his final college season. Typically, that decision would’ve resulted in a dismissal from the lineup altogether. Shane Beamer, however, changed his mind.
“I’d say it’s a little bit of a change. I’ve had guys ask me to do this before, and I wouldn’t let them… [Ashford] started this thing with us. He’s been a good teammate.”
-Shane Beamer
It seems the South Carolina football team had some say in that exception. They wanted Robby Ashford to stay for one final game.
QB Robby Ashford — who’s in the transfer portal — is allowed to practice in play in the bowl game.
Shane Beamer decided to make an exception after talking with the leaders on the team pic.twitter.com/AREfiNnXBA
— Jordan Kaye (@jordankaye_23) December 27, 2024
Shane Beamer didn’t make an exception for his offensive coordinator.
Play caller Dowell Loggains is leaving Columbia to take the head coaching job at Appalachian State. While he initially intended to finish out his stint with the Gamecocks in the Citrus Bowl, Beamer has since decided it was best for both sides to part ways before kickoff.
Shane Beamer said Mike Shula will call plays in the bowl game.
Joked that Illinois can now start scouting the mid-2000’s Alabama offense pic.twitter.com/HVVPZCdpBa
— Jordan Kaye (@jordankaye_23) December 27, 2024
Beamer didn’t believe Loggains could be fully committed to both the bowl game and his new role as head coach with the Mountaineers, so, he opted to cut ties.
He does, however, think that Robby Ashford is committed to the postseason efforts, even with the QB taking a recent trip to UNLV. If that mindset changes, the coach won’t hesitate to revert back to his previous outlook on transfer players.
“If we go through this process and over the next few days, I sense anything that he’s not being a great teammate or isn’t completely committed, then we’re going to have a different conversation.”
-Shane Beamer
For now, Ashford intends to be on the sidelines when the Gamecocks take on Illinois. We’ll see if he’s rewarded with some playing time in his final game with South Carolina.