As someone who has watched nearly every snap of the Steve Spurrier era, I often, like most viewers, question why the Head Ball Coach has often neglected his tight ends in recent years.

I’m not an offensive guru nor claim to have six SEC titles and a national championship under my belt, but I do know big, rangy targets lurking over the middle are quite fashionable as safety nets for quarterbacks.

The Gamecocks could use a reliable first-down option this season opposite of All-American receiver Pharoh Cooper, the only returning wideout with more than three catches to his credit last season.

Jared Cook was South Carolina’s last properly-utilized big man for the Gamecocks during the 2007 and 2008 seasons, accumulating 67 catches over his final two years as a starter with six touchdowns. Wes Saunders and Justice Cunningham followed, and despite often leaking open in the middle of the field, didn’t get enough targets for noticeable production besides Saunders’ 32 receptions in 2009 from Stephen Garcia.

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Had Buster Anderson been more of a factor in the red zone during Connor Shaw’s senior season in 2013, he would’ve likely approached Cook’s numbers as a scoring threat after piling up eight touchdowns over his first two years.

Last season was the first time under the Spurrier that tight ends had a noticeable, expanded role in the Gamecocks’ offense. After Anderson and Jerell Adams combined for 11 catches and 173 yards over the first three games, Spurrier denied looking their way more in the passing game.

“Aw, sometimes it just works out that way,” Spurrier said at the time. “Sometimes a receiver gets more balls than maybe he thought he was gonna get, or fewer than he thought he was gonna get. There’s no exact formula.”

There is a formula if the Gamecocks make it a point to throw to the tight ends. It’s an ideal situation this season considering the inexperience at the wide receiver spots while breaking in projected first-year starting quarterback Connor Mitch.

Anderson exhausted his eligibility and Drew Owens transferred, leaving Adams, who dropped 11 pounds during the offseason, as the leader of his personnel group for his senior season. Adams has a proven ability to stretch the field when given the opportunity, but he’s the only tight end on roster with a reception.

Jacob August and KC Crosby are both redshirt freshmen and only Crosby has appeared in a game. August led all pass-catchers with five catches for 44 yards in last week’s first spring scrimmage, a promising sign for the local walk-on from Columbia who is currently a third-teamer.

Crosby could line up at several positions at the line of scrimmage or in the backfield in short yardage situations. He’s one of the Gamecocks’ strongest players and is the team’s best blocking tight end.