South Carolina is 1-0 on the season after a narrow 23-19 win over Old Dominion. Led by Rocket Sanders and a good defensive performance, the Gamecocks were able to overcome what was a very strange football game in Columbia, South Carolina.

The Gamecocks received very iffy quarterback play from new starter LaNorris Sellers and the passing game in general was quite suspect.

Here are 3 takeaways from the Gamecocks’ narrow win over Old Dominion.

LaNorris Sellers struggles in college debut

Whether it be due to nerves or inexperience, the athletically gifted LaNorris Sellers really struggled at quarterback against Old Dominion Saturday. That’s not where all of South Carolina’s issues start and end moving forward, but it was certainly the catalyst for this performance.

Sellers finished 10/23 for 114 yards while adding 68 rushing yards. Sellers was actually best with his legs, where he was able to use his incredible athleticism to weave past Old Dominion defenders. But as the 2021-2023 Chicago Bears learned, you need your quarterback to be able to push the ball downfield consistently.

But then again, there were several plays like this:

The talent is obviously there. That was a 60-yard bomb that should have been caught and very well could have scored (receiver had to adjust slightly left, weight may have forced him to fall). And that wasn’t the only example of his receivers failing to help him out -the Gamecocks will be searching for a No. 1 receiver religiously across the next few weeks.

There was also some of this from Sellers Saturday night:

That has nothing to do with his arm, of course, but it does kind of prove that Sellers was playing nervous. Either way, Sellers has a lot to improve on moving forward.

South Carolina run game – led by Raheim Sanders – saves the day

Here’s a positive with no strings attached: Raheim Sanders, South Carolina’s transfer pickup out of Arkansas, was excellent in his Gamecocks debut. Sanders averaged nearly 4 yards per carry and totaled 88 rushing yards on 24 carries for 1 touchdown.

Here’s his first score as a Gamecock:

What’s more impressive is that Sanders did this behind an offensive line that definitely did not play its best game. Sanders was by far South Carolina’s best offensive player Saturday, even despite several missed blocking assignments and a lack of clear running lanes.

Sanders wasn’t the only productive rusher. It was Sellers – who, again, ran the ball quite well Saturday – who scored what would be the game-winning touchdown with just over 6 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter.

Defense pulls out spectacular 4th quarter to seal victory

South Carolina’s defense was asked to do a lot on Saturday. It was far from their best performance under Beamer, let’s be clear. But there were flashes that ended up helping decide what was a very bizarre, underwhelming Week 1 win for the Gamecocks.

The Gamecocks defense – specifically DeAndre Jules – made the play of the ballgame halfway through the 4th quarter. With Old Dominion backed up deep in their own side of field the Gamecock DT forced and recovered a fumble, which led to the LaNorris Sellers touchdown you see above.

Then, with 1:29 to play, DB Jalon Kilgore intercepted Old Dominion QB Grant Wilson off a deflection to seal the game. The Monarchs were driving the field, but South Carolina’s defense held firm to guarantee the W.

In total South Carolina’s defense finished with 5 sacks, 8 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble and 2 interceptions. Kyle Kennard had an especially strong performance, totaling 2 sacks and 3 tackles for loss. Dylan Stewart added 1.5 sacks.