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Shane Beamer explains why Robby Ashford is playing while in portal, updates Kyle Kennard status
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- Shane Beamer explains why Robby Ashford is playing while in portal, updates Kyle Kennard status
Every situation is different for players in the transfer portal according to South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer .
The situation with backup Gamecocks QB Robby Ashford is a perfect example.
According to Beamer, Ashford went to him after the Clemson game and said how much he has loved his time at South Carolina , the players and the program but wanted to be a starter. He knew if he stayed he'd continue to be a backup to LaNorris Sellers , like he was the entire 2024 season.
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Beamer understood and is allowing Ashford to stay with the team through the Citrus Bowl game on Dec. 31.
"It's a little bit of a change because I've had some guys ask to do that in the past and I've said no because you're either with us or your not," Beamer said. "I think each situation is specific, Robby loves it here, he's enjoyed his experience here, he wants to be a starting quarterback, I get that and he should be. There's only one of those guys on the field."
Beamer said he went back and forth on the choice to let him stay but then went to the leaders of the team and basically asked if it was all right with them if Ashford stuck around despite entering the portal . Beamer said everyone agreed, acknowledging how good of a teammate he's been and how they want him to finish out the season with South Carolina.
"I would love for Robby to stay but I want him to get a chance to be a QB somewhere," Beamer said. "I'd love to say, 'Don't announce you're going into the going into the portal until right after the game then go in the portal' but that's not the best thing for him ... I didn't want to prevent him from being able to find his next home over the month of December."
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The transfer portal closes on Dec. 28.
The Gamecocks (9-3) face Illinois on Dec. 31 (3 p.m., ABC) in the Citrus Bowl . Ashford and Beamer have worked out a schedule where he's able to go on visits to other schools but he won't to miss any practices.
"Quarterback is a unique situation because they only take one," Beamer said. "I told the team in front of Robby that if we go through this process and I sense that he's not being a great teammate or isn't completely committed than we are going to have a different conversation."
Shane Beamer addresses bowl game opt-outs, Kyle Kennard
Beamer said based on conversations with edge rusher Kyle Kennard , he doesn't believe he will play in the Citrus Bowl. Kennard declared for the NFL draft on Friday.
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"I don't believe he's going to play based on what he's conveyed to me," Beamer said. "He's one right now that isn't with us."
The 6-foot-5, 254-pound edge rusher transferred to South Carolina after four years at Georgia Tech . He has 24 career sacks — 11.5 of them this season, the most in the SEC and No. 5 in the nation. He had 20 solo tackles, 10 quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles this season.
One other player is on the fence in terms of playing according to Beamer, but he said everyone else is playing for a potential 10th win.
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Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Shane Beamer: South Carolina coach on Kyle Kennard, Robby Ashford
