Shane Beamer ‘excited’ about what Syracuse transfer Jatius Geer brings to South Carolina
South Carolina’s defensive line finally has a new piece — and it could go a long way.
USC landed a commitment from Syracuse transfer defensive end Jatius Geer on May 11, giving the Gamecocks a legitimate option to help bolster its lacking depth on the edge.
“Excited about him,” head coach Shane Beamer said on Monday at a Gamecock Club event in Florence. “Had a productive year last year for Syracuse and somebody that’s from the state of South Carolina, so it’s important to get a South Carolinian back on our roster — especially one that’s as productive as he is and at a position of need.”
Geer, an Anderson native who played high school football at Belton-Honea Path, appeared in 14 games (12 starts) over two years at Syracuse. He locked down a starting role this past season as a redshirt freshman, finishing the 2022 campaign with 33 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, six quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a blocked kick. The 3.5 sacks also marked the fifth-most by an Orange freshman in program history.
Rated the No. 1,030 player and No. 112 defensive lineman in the 2021 class, Geer initially pledged to Syracuse over reported offers from Georgia Tech, East Carolina, Kansas State, Memphis, Temple, UCF and Western Kentucky.
“He’ll help us to provide depth in that room, pass rush ability and size,” Beamer said. “And it’s good to get a guy in here that’s hungry but has also played a lot of football.”
South Carolina has legitimate needs at defense end following the transfers of Jordan Burch (Oregon) and Gilber Edmond (Florida State). It also took a hit when four-star freshman Monteque Rhames, a mid-year enrollee, was arrested on weapons charges in February. Rhames has been indefinitely suspended since the alleged incident was reported.
Seventh-year senior Jordan Strachan and veteran Tyreek Johnson have the most significant experience among returning players at the position, though Strachan is recovering from a torn ACL that ended his 2022 season in Week 2 at Arkansas.
Sophomore Bryan Thomas Jr. played in 10 games last year and could see major snaps again this fall. One-time N.C. State transfer Terrell Dawkins should factor into the equation as well after he was banged up most of the 2022 campaign.
The Gamecocks also brought in four-star freshman Desmond Umeozulu in the 2023 recruiting class. Umeozulu received rave reviews during the spring, but it’s unclear how much he will be counted on during his first college football season.
South Carolina 2023 transfer class
RB Mario Anderson, Newberry
TE Nick Elksnis, Florida
TE Trey Knox, Arkansas
TE Joshua Simon, Western Kentucky
OL Nick Gargiulo, Yale
OL Sidney Fugar, Western Illinois
OL Jaxon Hughes, Charlotte (PWO)
OL Ni Mansell, Mercer (PWO)
LB Jaron Willis, Ole Miss
WR Eddie Lewis, Memphis
