Spring football is a time for discovery. It’s a chance for coaches to see how (or if) their players have improved over the winter. It’s a time for players to step forward and make a case for more playing time in the fall.

For new coach Will Muschamp and the Gamecocks, this spring was all about restoring some confidence after last year’s 3-9 mark. He also wanted to see how his early enrollees — players likely destined for significant roles this season — looked in South Carolina uniforms.

With the Garnet & Black spring game in the books, it’s time to reflect on what we learned about the Gamecocks the last few weeks.

1. MCILWAIN STAKES CLAIM FOR STARTING ROLE

With three returning quarterbacks with starting experience, some believed that it would be tough for true freshman Brandon McIlwain to win the starting job when the season opens on Sept. 1.

His solid work in the spring, and efficient work in the Garnet & Black game, have made that scenario much more likely.

Muschamp has been careful to remind everyone that Perry Orth and Lorenzo Nunez, who missed the spring game with injuries, are still very much involved in the quarterback competition.

But it’s clear after the spring that the four-star recruit from Newtown, Pa., is the frontrunner. Orth, Nunez and Connor Mitch will have to work very hard to overtake him this summer.

2. WR CORPS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS

Deebo Samuel, the leading returning receiver from last year, and true freshman Bryan Edwards, who had two touchdown grabs in the spring game, seem to have emerged as viable options at receiver going forward.

It’s a start, but on a team that plans to run plenty of three- and four-receiver sets, more options need to emerge. Terry Googer, another potential starter, missed the end of spring practice with a high-ankle sprain, and his absence was noticeable.

Jamari Smith, who has bounced around from corner to running back to receiver in his career, had a nice spring game. He pulled in a touchdown pass from Mitch for the last score of the day.

A walk-on, Javon Charleston, was among the team leaders with four grabs for 54 yards on Saturday. This is either the start of another, Hayden Hurst-like, rags-to-riches story or an indictment of an under-performing unit.

We’ll find out this summer.

3. WORKING ON THAT BACK FOUR

Muschamp didn’t hide his disdain for the play of his secondary during spring practice, declaring them “light years away” from where they need to be in the days leading up to the spring game.

The unit was a bit better in a game setting, but still had a few blown coverages that resulted in wide-open receivers. Considering that Jamarcus King, the nation’s top-rated JUCO corner, isn’t on campus yet, it may be too early to push the panic button.

Still, it’s a unit that will need to be much better for the Gamecocks to be successful.

4. TIGHT ENDS TO BE FEATURED?

On the first four passing plays for McIlwain on Saturday, three of them featured short passes to Hurst and fellow tight end K.C. Crosby.

Jerell Adams was the Gamecocks’ second-leading receiver last season, and his departure led to Hurst’s move back to the position from wide receiver and the chance for a larger role for Crosby.

“K.C. gives us a lot of variety as Hayden does too because both guys can stretch the field,” Muschamp told The State newspaper last week. “They both can block at the point of attack and they can give you issues on how do you count them defensively. Do you count them as a tight end or do you count them as a wideout?”

If McIlwain does end up as the starter, don’t be surprised if he leans heavily on the biggest targets available.

5. LOOKING FOR A FEATURE BACK

Gamecocks running backs managed 144 yards on 48 carries in the spring game, which adds up to exactly three yards and a cloud of dust every time they touched the ball.

David Williams entered the spring as the favorite to be the starter, and although he hasn’t exactly blown away his competition, he is probably still the man to beat.

A.J. Turner, a redshirt freshman, has put himself in the running with a nice spring — and running is the key word to describe him.

“A.J. has top end speed and he’s very quick,” Muschamp told 247 Sports. “He’s also a really good receiver out of the backfield. A lot of the stretch plays we can create on the edge, put him on the edge in space. He’s a good one-cut runner and gets going north and south. He has top end speed to finish.”

True freshman C.J. Freeman had some nice moments in the spring game, as did Mon Denson and Rod Talley.

Another freshman, Rico Dowdle, will join the fray this summer for a fight for playing time that looks to be far from over.