Football practice for the Gamecocks began on Friday with the expectations for the season, the highest in the last 15 years. The one piece of news to come from the first two practices was that transfer running back Rahsul Faison was granted a practice waiver by the NCAA. Faison has not yet been cleared by the NCAA for eligibility this season, and he was held out of the first practice while his attorned filed for an emergency waiver. That was granted Friday afternoon, and he was at practice Saturday.
Veteran college coach Geoff Collins has joined the Gamecock football staff as a senior defensive assistant coach. Collins, a 28-year coaching veteran, most recently served as the defensive coordinator on Mack Brown’s 2024 staff at North Carolina after a four-year stint (2019-22) as the head coach at Georgia Tech. During his lone season in Chapel Hill, Collins’s Tar Heel defense recorded 41 sacks, tying for the sixth-best mark in the nation.
Gamecock quarterback LaNorris Sellers is one of 80 college football players named to the 89th Maxwell Award preseason watch list, the Maxwell Football Club announced. The Maxwell Award has been presented to the College Player of the Year since 1937.
Edge rusher Dylan Stewart is one of 60 players listed as a contender for the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which recognizes the national defensive player of the year, the Football Writers Association of America announced.
Running back Oscar Adaway III is one of a record 116 nominees to the 2025 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, recognizing college football players from across the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) who exemplify community service, academic excellence and athletic achievement.
Former Gamecock star receiver Sterling Sharpe was formally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday in Canton, OH. Sharpe is the first USC product to be welcomed into the Hall. Sharpe played at USC from 1983-87, and his jersey #2 was retired by the University at the end of the 1987 season. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014. Sharpe was the seventh pick of the 1988 draft by the Green Bay Packers. His NFL career was curt short after seven seasons due to a severe neck injury. Over those seven seasons, Sharpe was second only to fellow Hall of Famer Jerry Rice in receptions and yards, and he was third in touchdowns. Sharpe joined his brother Shannon as the only brothers enshrined in Canton.
The women’s basketball team will face North Carolina in an exhibition game in Atlanta on October 30th. The doubleheader event created by Complete Sports Management will see the Gamecocks and Tar Heels face off at 6 p.m. in State Farm Arena followed by a men’s basketball game between Auburn and Memphis.
Gamecock sophomore Joyce Edwards led the United States to another title as the Americans claimed the title at the 2025 FIBA 3×3 Nations League Americas Conference in Punta Arenas, Chile. The team’s top scorer with 7.9 points per game over her 11 outings in the tournament, she had four double-figure scoring games.
Head beach volleyball coach Jose Loiola announced the addition of Maddie Holmgren as an assistant coach. Holmgren (née Parmelly) is a recent graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, playing for the Longhorns this past spring.
Equestrian head coach Carol Gwin announced the addition of Stephanie Broughton to her staff as the assistant western coach and recruiting coordinator. Broughton brings her experience as a championship rider at Oklahoma State and three years of coaching experience to the Gamecocks’ staff.
Wesley Mallette was named Deputy Athletics Director/Chief Marketing Officer for Gamecock Athletics by Athletics Director Jeremiah Donati. Mallette comes to South Carolina from the University of California, Riverside, where he was the school’s athletics director.
Season opening games for fall sports:
Women’s soccer at College of Charleton August 14th
Men’s soccer at College of Charleston August 21st
Volleyball at home vs East Tennessee August 29th
Football vs Virginia Tech in Atlanta August 31st
Equestrian at home vs SMU September 26th