“Talkin’ season” is finally here.
The unofficial kickoff of the college football season gets underway next week as SEC Media Days makes it grand return to The Wynfrey Hotel.
It was announced in late April that new Gamecocks head football coach Shane Beamer will be the third and final coach to speak on day one as he gives an early look at his team heading into his inaugural season in Columbia.
TALKIN’ SEASON is coming.#Gamecocks HC Shane Beamer set to speak Monday, July 19th at SEC Media Days.
— The Spurs Up Show (@TheSpursUpShow) April 28, 2021
He will be the third coach to speak that day, following Dan Mullen and Ed Orgeron. pic.twitter.com/3Nn1l4Ttt4
Now the question remains: which players will tag along with the Gamecocks head coach next week as he takes on the “media boys” in Hoover?
In the spirit of “talkin’ season” and “prediction season”, let’s give our best shot at who we might be hearing from next Monday.
RB Kevin Harris
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CIgQEYKhH13/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
This one feels like a no-brainer. For a guy who most fans feel has been “disrespected” all throughout the off-season, this feels like the perfect opportunity to get the Kevin Harris hype train rolling.
In case you forgot, Harris is the leading returning rusher in the SEC and will look to lead the Gamecocks rushing attack yet again this season.
Whether you feel he’s being overlooked or not, the bottom line is this: he’s one of the brightest stars in a league full of them and would be the most talked about player at day one of SEC Media Days.
TE Nick Muse
Get out of your feelings and over the picture that Nick Muse posted on Instagram and hear me out.
This pick makes PERFECT sense.
Nick has made it very clear on his social media channels that he loves to stir the pot and loves the attention. That bodes VERY well for an event that thrives on players with big personalities.
Also, Muse is a guy who did a very good job handling himself with the media a season ago in the midst of one of the toughest seasons of football I’m sure he has ever been a part of.
Whether you’re a fan of him or not, Muse is a laugh out loud funny character and would bring some much needed flare and humor to The Wynfrey Hotel.
DL JJ Enagbare
https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ6aXeanNDm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
The undisputed leader of the Gamecocks defense and one of the most feared pass rushers in the SEC.
Enagbare shined a season ago in garnet and black, leading South Carolina’s defense in sacks and tackles for loss.
He’s also a very well spoken kid and someone I think would be a great representative for the University of South Carolina.
Elite football player, charismatic personality and will represent USC well. This one checks all the boxes and I’d expect to see JJ in a fresh suit and tie next week.
Honorable Mention: Parker White
For whatever reason, it feels like the special teams unit has been a bit of an afterthought thus far this pre-season.
Outside of the fact our head coach literally is “BEAMER BALL”, Gamecocks fans have another reason to get excited.
Parker White returns looking to rewrite the record books and break every scoring and kicking record at South Carolina this fall.
He’s also a HILARIOUS human being and could most certainly provide some solid one-liners for the media boys to run with in Hoover.
While it’s not standard practice to bring a specialist to SEC Media Days, you could make a case for White to be that exception.
Either way, I absolutely cannot wait for one of my favorite events of the college football season to return in grand fashion next week as we inch closer and closer to kickoff.