The 2015 season is a bit of an enigma in Columbia with a new-look South Carolina squad out to prove that last year’s 7-6 season was a fluke. Here’s a look at five subplots regarding the Gamecocks to keep an eye on during the season:

Can the defense improve?

The South Carolina defense was a major weakness for the Gamecocks last season, ranking No. 92 in the nation in total defense yielding 4,397 yards. To remedy the ailing unit, Spurrier added Jon Hoke to his staff as co-defensive coordinator along with Lorenzo Ward. Hoke, who will work specifically with the secondary, brings 32 years’ worth of coaching experience to Columbia, including the last 13 years in the NFL with the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans.

The defense returns mostly intact and is flush with upperclassmen with playing experience. While not one returning players started more than 11 games in 2014 (Gerald Dixon), the unit does return 58 games of starting experience.

It shouldn’t be too hard to improve upon a season that saw the Gamecocks finish last in the SEC for tackles (819), sacks (14) and passes defended (31). Helping to bolster the defense are two new transfers in DE Marquavius “Qua” Lewis and S Isaiah Johnson, who provide the front attack and back defense immediate stop-gap measures.

Is Connor Mitch the answer/future?

Connor Mitch is the new quarterback in Columbia, after beating out backup Perry Orth, Michael Scarnecchia and Lorenzo Nunez. Just because Mitch earned the job, doesn’t mean Spurrier won’t have a quick hook. A sizable pocket passer at 6-foot-3, 211-pounds, Mitch ranked right up there with former Gamecocks quarterbacks Connor Shaw and Dylan Thompson as far as recruiting measurables. Mitch has the talent — once tossing 9 touchdown passes in a game for Wakefield (N.C.) High School, one shy of the national record.

The redshirt sophomore has a real opportunity to solidify the position for the Gamecocks for the next three years. But expect his tenure to be a short one should he falter early.

How much longer will Spurrier coach?

Perhaps it was an innocent flub of the tongue or just the Head Ball Coach telling it like it is, but recent comments regarding his future in coaching appear to be plaguing South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier, particularly on the recruiting trail.

“Give me two or three more,” Spurrier said at the conclusion of the 2014 season, via The State. “I used to say ‘four or five,’ now I’m down to ‘two or three.’ I mean, I could get in a car wreck, but I’m definitely planning on being back.”

Between 2012 and 2015, Gamecock recruiting classes were a lock somewhere between Nos. 17 and 20 in 247Sports’ recruiting rankings. But those numbers have started to slip in the wake of the 70-year-old coach inadvertently putting a timetable on his days left in Columbia. No doubt opposing coaches use that against Spurrier in their recruiting pitches. Although still early, South Carolina’s 2016 class ranks No. 35 in the nation according to 247Sports.

Even more concerning might be the lack of a recruiting class prize. You have to go back to Jadeveon Clowney in 2010 to find Spurrier’s last five-star recruit. By comparison, Alabama has landed 24 five-star recruits and Georgia 11 over that same period. The coach’s 2016 class currently has 14 hard commits. Of them, only four are rated as four-star prospects.

With his recruiting classes experiencing a slight hiccup, Spurrier might need to win big now to salvage the remaining time he has left at South Carolina, however long that might be.

Can the young guys produce?

Steve Spurrier released his depth chart this week and among them are a slew of freshman and first-year Gamecocks who the Head Ball Coach is hoping can pay off on offense. The Gamecocks current roster has 64 underclassmen, of which 33 are true freshmen, to go along with 11 redshirt freshmen. South Carolina’s offense will have a pair of freshman receivers in starter Deebo Samuels and Terry Googer, who is expected to see plenty balls thrown his direction this year backing up Carlton Heard. Freshmen Hayden Hurst and Kyle Markaway will back up senior Jerell Adams at tight end, while freshmen Zack Bailey, Blake Camper and Christian Pellage fill out the Gamecocks’ two-deep along the offensive line.

Defensively, Marquavius “Qua” Lewis isn’t exactly a freshman, but the Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College transfer should revitalize the Gamecocks defensive line. As should freshman Shameik Blackshear and Dexter Wideman, (two of the biggest recruits Spurrier landed in 2015) who, despite not being listed on the two-deep, could have big impacts early in their careers.

Can Pharoh Cooper repeat his success?

Pharoh Cooper (1,136 yards) was the first South Carolina receiver to eclipse 1,000 yards receiving since Alshon Jeffery posted 1,517 yards in 2010. In fact, the junior Cooper needs just 1,852 yards the next two seasons (provided he returns to Columbia for his senior year) to pass Jeffery for the top spot on the Gamecocks’ all-time receiving leaderboard. Whether he can surpass Jeffery or simply repeat his 1,336 all-purpose yards and 11-touchdown sophomore campaign will depend upon how defenses prepare for Cooper and how well new quarterback Connor Mitch can assimilate into the offense. Head coach Steve Spurrier is a master when it comes to game-planning an aerial attack, even if his squads have become more run-focused over the years. Expect another dynamic season from the multi-talented, potential SEC player of the year candidate.

SDS Takeaway

What a difference a year makes. Last August there were whispers that South Carolina could challenge for its first SEC East title … and perhaps more. Then Kenny Hill and Texas A&M arrived in Columbia in Week 1 and the house of cards crumpled.

This year’s Gamecocks are polar opposites in some ways, as last year’s experienced offense is now a young, untested squad, while the defense is vice versa. If Spurrier can work some magic and get production from his young team, there’s no reason why the Gamecocks can’t go to their 10th bowl game in the Head Ball Coach’s 11th year at the helm.