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

The tight end did see playing time in the 24-11 victory. He also recorded his first catch of the season, a seven-yard completion from LaNorris Sellers.

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

“But those are two guys that are two of our better players and we need them to prepare the right way during the week and then be able to go play more on Saturdays and then 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.