Before developing into one of the top defensive ends in the NFL, Los Angeles Chargers star Melvin Ingram was a force to be reckoned with in the South Carolina defense, combining for 19 sacks in his final 2 seasons while being named a consensus All-American and 1st-team All-SEC pick following his senior campaign.

A key member of the Gamecocks coaching staff during that time was current Oklahoma associate head coach Shane Beamer, who joined Steve Spurrier first as cornerbacks coach before moving to linebackers and special teams in 2009 and 2010. With the Gamecocks now looking for a new head coach, Beamer’s name has surfaced as a potential replacement for the fired Will Muschamp.

Ingram went on record as being strongly in favor of the move, tweeting his support for Beamer making a return to Columbia.

A primary draw for Beamer is that he is already familiar with the culture at South Carolina, so he would need little help in getting acclimated. Most importantly, he has already demonstrated that he is one of the top recruiters in the country—his most recent example of success coming earlier this year when dual-threat Washington, D.C. quarterback Caleb Williams committed to Oklahoma—and his connections with coaches across the Southeast can certainly come in handy for a program that needs a jolt.

Whether Beamer is the pick for the Gamecocks remains to be seen, but at least one of its former stars is on board.