| Year: | 2021 |
| Team: | South Carolina Gamecocks |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southeastern Conference |
| Short Conf: | SEC |
| Division: | East Division |
| Record: | 7–6 |
| Conf Record: | 3–5 |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Champion: | Duke's Mayo Bowl champion |
| Bowl Result: | W 38–21 vs. North Carolina |
The 2021 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season marked the Gamecocks' 128th overall season, and 30th as a member of the SEC East Division. The Gamecocks played their home games at Williams–Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina, and were led by first-year head coach Shane Beamer.
In what was later deemed 2021's best season by a first-year head coach,[1] South Carolina compiled a record of 7–6.[2] The Gamecocks played in their first bowl game since 2018 and won their first bowl game since 2017, defeating North Carolina in the Duke's Mayo Bowl 38–21.[3] Home games also returned to full capacity,[4] though that capacity was now slightly reduced due to renovations.[5]
On December 6, 2020, Oklahoma assistant head coach Shane Beamer was announced as the Gamecocks 36th head coach. A former Gamecock assistant coach and recruiting coordinator under Steve Spurrier from 2007 to 2010, he is also the son of long time Virginia Tech Head coach Frank Beamer. Beamer was born in Charleston, South Carolina, after graduating from Virginia Tech, he was a graduate assistant at Georgia Tech, and Tennessee, before becoming an assistant coach at Mississippi State. Beamers other stops as an assistant included Virginia Tech and Georgia. Notable recruits signed during Beamer's time as recruiting coordinator at South Carolina included Alshon Jeffery, Stephon Gilmore, and D. J. Swearinger.[6]
Beamer cleaned out the staff from the Muschamp era, hiring Marcus Satterfield from the Carolina Panthers as Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Clayton White from NC State as Defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach, and a slew of other hires including Pete Lembo as Associate head coach/special teams coordinator and Hammond coach and former Gamecock QB Erik Kimrey as Tight ends coach. Defensive backs coach Torrian Gray was hired away from Florida, and Wide receivers coach Justin Stepp was hired away from Arkansas.
| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaycee Horn |
| CB | 6'1 | 205 | Junior | Alpharetta, Georgia | Declared for NFL Draft | |
| Ernest Jones |
| LB | 6'2 | 230 | Junior | Waycross, Georgia | Declared for NFL Draft | |
| Shi Smith |
| WR | 5'10 | 190 | Senior | Union, South Carolina | Declared for NFL Draft | |
| Israel Mukuamu |
| CB | 6'4 | 205 | Junior | Bossier City, Louisiana | Declared for NFL Draft | |
| Ryan Hilinski |
| QB | 6'3 | 225 | Sophomore | Orange, California | Transferred | |
| Jay Urich |
| QB | 6'5 | 215 | RS Junior | Greenville, South Carolina | Graduated | |
| Collin Hill |
| QB | 6'4 | 222 | Graduate | Moore, South Carolina | Graduated | |
| Deshaun Fenwick |
| RB | 6'1 | 220 | RS Sophomore | Bradenton, Florida | Transferred | |
| Slade Carroll |
| RB | 5'9 | 205 | RS Senior | Lexington, South Carolina | Graduated | |
| Adam Prentice |
| FB | 6'0 | 245 | Graduate | Fresno, California | Graduated | |
| Christian Kinsley |
| P | 6'2 | 220 | RS Senior | Lexington, South Carolina | Graduated | |
| KeShawn Toney |
| TE | 6'2 | 248 | RS Freshman | Williston, South Carolina | Transferred | |
| Will Register |
| TE | 6'4 | 245 | RS Junior | Chapin, South Carolina | Graduated | |
| Sadarius Hutcherson |
| OL | 6'4 | 320 | RS Senior | Huntingdon, Tennessee | Graduated | |
| Keir Thomas |
| DL | 6'2 | 275 | RS Senior | Miami, Florida | Transferred | |
| Chandler Farrell |
| TE | 6'3 | 278 | RS Senior | Summerville, South Carolina | Graduated | |
| Jammie Robinson |
| DB | 5'11 | 195 | Sophomore | Leesburg, Georgia | Transferred | |
| Shilo Sanders |
| DB | 6'0 | 195 | RS Freshman | Cedar Hill, Texas | Transferred | |
| John Dixon |
| DB | 6'0 | 185 | Sophomore | Tampa, Florida | Transferred |
| Name | Position | Consecutive season |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | ||
| Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach | 1st | |
| Defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach | 1st | |
| Associate head coach/special teams coordinator | 1st | |
| Defensive backs coach | 1st | |
| Running backs coach | 1st | |
| Offensive line coach | 1st | |
| Justin Stepp | Wide receivers coach | 1st |
| Tight ends coach | 1st | |
| Outside linebackers coach | 5th | |
| Jimmy Lindsey | Defensive line coach | 1st |
| Name | Position | Consecutive season |
|---|---|---|
| Luke Day | 1st | |
| Director of football relations | 1st (2nd overall) | |
| Executive director of character and player development | 1st | |
See also: 2021 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team.
See also: 2021 East Carolina Pirates football team.
See also: 2021 Georgia Bulldogs football team and Georgia–South Carolina football rivalry.
See also: 2021 Kentucky Wildcats football team.
See also: 2021 Troy Trojans football team.
See also: 2021 Tennessee Volunteers football team.