Shane Beamer has spent much of his career working with special teams, and entering this season, there are still some questions about how the Gamecocks will deploy their kicker and punter.

Punter Kai Kroeger has missed fall camp while he recovers from a foot injury, but the placekicking competition continues to roll on. Beamer offered his latest thoughts during his radio show on Thursday night.

“That’s one of those things right now that’s still an ongoing battle that hasn’t been decided, talking about from a kicker’s standpoint,” Beamer said. “It’s going to be tough to replace Parker White and what he meant to this program, but Mitch Jeter and Alex Herrera, they’ve had a heck of a battle throughout spring practice and throughout preseason. It really is neck and neck right now. We haven’t made any decisions. Those guys will continue to compete. We’ve got 2 very, very, very talented kickers no matter who is the starter.”

Beamer said he is optimistic that Kroeger will return next week, however, in the mean time, William Joyce, Herrera and Jeter have all stepped in while Kroeger is out, have done a good job.

Joyce and Herrera would replace Kroeger at punter, if he couldn’t go against Georgia State.