The Shane Beamer era at South Carolina will start without a couple familiar faces in 2021, as senior wide receiver Shi Smith and junior linebacker Ernest Jones announced their intentions to prepare for the NFL Draft via their respective Instagram accounts.
Smith, who would have been able to return due to the NCAA allowing an extra year of eligibility owing to the coronavirus pandemic, had the type of senior season Gamecock fans wanted to see from him after key departures from the team’s receiving corps left him its most veteran and talented option. Smith finished with 57 catches for 633 yards and four touchdowns, topping off a career that saw him rack up 2,204 yards and 13 scores on 174 receptions.