Shane Beamer gives latest on Rahsul Faison’s waiver — and USC’s contingency plan
South Carolina took a gamble, a rare wager in favor of the much-maligned organization NCAA.
The thought was that surely the NCAA would work in a timely manner to resolve a dispute in which it’s been given ample information. That even if the NCAA didn’t rule in favor of South Carolina running back Rahsul Faison’s waiver request, it would at least make a ruling.
Think again.
South Carolina submitted Faison’s waiver request for an extra year of eligibility in January. As of late May, there has yet to be a resolution.
USC football coach Shane Beamer, in Florida for the SEC Spring Meetings, said Tuesday he still hasn’t heard more from the NCAA.
The NCAA issued a blanket waiver to give an extra year of eligibility to former junior college players — granted as a result of a lawsuit by Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia — but it doesn’t apply to Faison because he already exhausted his five-year eligibility clock. His winding college journey began in 2019 and has included stops with four different college football teams.
In early May, following scathing comments from Beamer on the NCAA’s handling of Faison’s case, the South Carolina running back retained the services of prominent sports and entertainment attorney Darren Heitner.
“We hope to not have to escalate this matter to court but we will do what is necessary to best ensure he obtains an extra year of eligibility,” Heitner told The State on May 7. “In the meantime, we hope to work cooperatively with the NCAA if they’re willing.”
Heitner didn’t immediately return an email from The State on Tuesday asking if he had heard back from the NCAA or intended to pursue further legal action.
Regardless, the whole situation has put Beamer in a pickle.
By gambling that Faison would be cleared, the Gamecocks didn’t go searching for another running back. The winter and spring transfer portal windows came and went, and South Carolina felt comfortable with the status quo. And if that status quo includes Faison, USC is in an envious position. If it doesn’t, there’s some worry.
If Faison’s waiver isn’t granted, South Carolina would be left with just four scholarship running backs: Bradley Dunn, Jawarn Howell, Matthew Fuller and Oscar Adaway III — with Adaway the only one with extensive FBS playing experience.
“That’s tough when you start talking about planning for 2025,” Beamer said in early May.
Asked Tuesday if there was any possible contingency plan or pivot the Gamecocks had, Beamer said the timing makes it almost impossible.
“As (this process) goes on, you continue to think about, ‘OK, if this were to happen, how would we handle it?’ ” Beamer said. “You go through different scenarios, but the fact that we’re pretty much in June right now — there’s not really a scenario where it’s a realistic where you say, ‘OK, if something doesn’t happen with ‘Sul, here’s somebody else we can go get.’
“There’s really nothing like that.”
This story was originally published May 28, 2025 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Shane Beamer gives latest on Rahsul Faison’s waiver — and USC’s contingency plan."
