Auburn football: Shane Beamer believes Robby Ashford can be South Carolina's QB1

The War Rapport's Mike Gittens provided me some clarity on how Shane Beamer views the addition of Auburn football transfer Robby Ashford to the South Carolina quarterback room: as a potential starter in 2024.

"Talent evaluation can be subjective in nature," Gittens prefaced before saying, "Hugh Freeze did not feel like Robby Ashford was an SEC caliber QB but Shane Beamer does. Not only does he believe that but the thinking inside the building is that he will be the best QB in the room once he steps on campus. I think it’s his job to lose. Sure he can lose it but his chances of starting over Doty are good.”

Ashford joins Myrtle Beach native and former 4-star Luke Doty, set to enter his fifth year after redshirting in 2020 and 2021 and with two years of eligibility remaining, and redshirt freshman and former Florence (SC) star LaNorris Sellers in the Gamecock's QB competition following the departure of NFL draft-bound Spencer Rattler. Gittens was the first with the scoop.

"Sources tell me that Robby Ashford will stay in the SEC and sign with South Carolina," Gittens prefaced in his initial report before saying, "All eligibility issues have been cleared and he will be immediately eligible to play for Shane Beamer’s squad. He has 2 years of eligibility left."

LaNorris Sellers tabbed QB1 favorite by South Carolina analyst ahead of Auburn football transfer Robby Ashford

Gamecocks Digest's Joseph Griffin believes Sellers, not Ashford, will be the man to beat in South Carolina's quarterback competition this spring.

"(The Ashford addition) will undoubtedly create fun discussion with the quarterback competition behind LaNorris Sellers this coming Spring," Griffin wrote.

Doty and Ashford have the experience edge over Sellers, with Ashford the only Gamecocks QB with at least 10 starts under center in his SEC career.