In the wake of a 3-9 season, a coaching staff change and a full incoming recruiting class, it isn’t surprising that there aren’t a lot of clear redshirt candidates at South Carolina for the 2016 season.

Will Muschamp and his staff aggressively filled what they saw as talent gaps, resulting in a class full of players with the potential to contribute right away.

Still, there are a few incoming recruits who will likely have to wait until 2017.

This list could look different when summer workouts get underway, as an injury or off-field situation can change the fortunes of several players in a position group. Until then, here are the most likely redshirt candidates for the Gamecocks this season:

JAKE BENTLEY, QB

Bentley, a four-star recruit and the son of running backs coach Bobby Bentley, reclassified to enroll this summer in Columbia.

He’s an intriguing prospect, but with three guys ahead of him in the race to be the starter — including fellow true freshman Brandon McIlwain — it’s hard to see Bentley not taking a redshirt season with an eye toward competing for the starting job in 2017.

RANDRECOUS DAVIS, WR

Talent-wise, Davis could help the Gamecocks right away. But the fact that he recently had sports hernia surgery puts him at risk for a redshirt season.

He caught 58 passes for 1,024 yards and 17 touchdowns at Atlanta’s Mays High last season and, after the coaching change at Georgia, chose the Gamecocks over Miami. He’s just 5-10, 170 but with his speed and elusiveness, he would immediately be in consideration for a role in the slot.

He’s expected to be fully healthy when camp opens, but if he has a setback, the coaching staff might decide to play it safe with him.

STEPHON TAYLOR, DT

Like Davis, Taylor is talented enough to play right away. The four-star recruit out of New Orleans chose South Carolina over Florida State and Texas, but is still recovering from labrum surgery in March.

He’s not expected to be fully recovered for the start of camp, leaving open the possibility of a redshirt season. With his talent, however, the coaching staff may be inclined to wait a little longer on him.

INCOMING OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

The Gamecocks recruited several offensive linemen, but based on the numbers, it seems likely that at least two will redshirt this fall.

Akeem Cooperwood, after a season at Georgia Military College, is probably the most ready to contribute right away. He has a massive frame (6-foot-7, 325 pounds) and figures to work his way into the discussion at tackle.

Pete Leota, a three-star recruit out of Asheville (N.C.), has good size at 6-foot-4, 300 pounds, but played in a run-oriented offense in high school. Since he’ll be adjusting to college life — and college schemes — he’s a good candidate for a redshirt season.

The same is true for another North Carolina product, three-star tackle Will Putnam. He’s a little lighter than Leota (275 pounds) and very agile, and has said he expects to play guard or center at the college level. If he’s changing positions, it’s hard to imagine him playing much in 2016.

INCOMING DEFENSIVE ENDS

One of the freshmen at this position, Keir Thomas, enrolled early and is already on the two-deep. So, he’s probably not redshirting.

Darius Whitfield, Aaron Thompson, Sadarius Hutcherson, Dennis Wonnum and Griffin Gentry are the other incoming freshmen ends, and while a couple should play in 2016, a few should end up redshirting.

Whitfield is the most highly touted, and Muschamp recruited him for his entire high school career. Barring an injury, he seems likely to crack the rotation at end this season.

Thompson was a late addition after decommitting from Maryland. He’s built like Whitfield, and was rated similarly. He could avoid a redshirt with a strong camp.

Hutcherson is listed as an end, but may move to the other side of the line when he arrives. He seems headed for a year in the weight room either way.

Wonnum, a three-star recruit out of Stone Mountain, Ga., and Gentry, a two-star prospect out of Birmingham, round out the incoming freshmen at the position.

Wonnum has the body type of a “Buck” — the Gamecock’s version of a linebacker/defensive end hybrid — at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds. SB Nation’s Stephen Wise describes him as having “the speed to bend the edge and is a very effective pass rusher.”

But he may need to bulk up a bit before going up against SEC tackles on a regular basis.

Gentry is more of a project, as his rating suggests. He could contribute down the line, but he seems destined for a redshirt season.