COLUMBIA, S.C. () — South Carolina football Coach Shane Beamer clarified why Calvary Day alum Michael Smith did not play as many snaps as anticipated in South Carolina’s season-opening triumph against Virginia Tech.

The tight end did participate in the 24-11 victory. He also registered his first catch of the season, a seven-yard pass from LaNorris Sellers.

“Practice matters here,” Beamer stated. “And not saying that he didn’t practice well, but we just felt like Brady Horn, Jordan Dingle, and [Maurice] Brown had been a bit more efficient in practice leading into the game. We had planned on playing Mike a little more than what he did, but he got to catch, didn’t have many reps.

“But those are two guys that are among our better players, and we need them to prepare the right way during the week and then be able to play more on Saturdays than what they did the other day.”

The other player referenced in Beamer’s quote is redshirt senior wide receiver Jared Brown.

South Carolina hosts South Carolina State on Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. at Williams-Brice Stadium.