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Many of the parts are the same for the South Carolina Gamecocks as they enter the 2015 season.
Where those parts are lined up is a bit of a different story. Add to the mix a handful of young and new faces and South Carolina has a roster it believes it can surprise a lot of teams with.
Among the biggest upgrades for the Gamecocks is an improved defense, thanks to transfers such as DEs Marquavius Lewis and Dante Sawyer and SS Isaiah Johnson, who have already ascended to No. 1 on the depth chart at their respective positions.
Here’s a glance at our projection for the post-fall camp two-deep:
OFFENSE (SPREAD MULTIPLE)
QB1: Connor Mitch
QB2: Perry Orth
The Gamecocks’ quarterback battle remains too close to call, but Connor Mitch appears to have the slight edge over Perry Orth, Michael Scarnecchia and Lorenzo Nunez. With the exception of the speedy Nunez, all three are traditional pocket passers. Whomever is dubbed the starter should thrive in Spurrier’s offense.
RB1: Brandon Wilds
RB2: David Williams
The team may not have Mike Davis any more, but with questions (concerns?) at quarterback, this team figures to run the ball quite a bit. Wilds and Williams are capable of being very productive players.
X WR1: Deebo Samuel
X WR2: Shamier Jeffery
Z WR1: Pharoh Cooper
Z WR2: Matrick Belton
B WR1: Carlton Heard
B WR2: Terry Googer
TE1: Jerell Adams
TE2: Kevin Crosby
Beyond Cooper, the rest of the pass-catchers haven’t proven much. Adams came on strong at the end of ’14, and it’s possible he’ll become the No. 2 option, especially with an inexperienced quarterback.
LT1: Brandon Shell
LT2: D.J. Park
LG1: Mike Matulis
LG2: Cody Waldrop
C1: Alan Knott
C2: Cody Waldrop
RG1: Will Sport
RG2: Donell Stanley
RT1: Mason Zandi
RT2: Malik Young
Brandon Shell will drag his 35-game start streak to left tackle this season from right tackle where he’ll anchor a reshuffled South Carolina offensive line. With injuries healing and players adjusting to new spots, the Gamecocks should see improvement along the line, which is music to RBs Brandon Wilds and David Williams’ ears.
DEFENSE (4-3)
DE1: Marquavius Lewis
DE2: Dexter Wideman
DT1: Gerald Dixon Jr.
DT2: Abu Lamin
DT1: Dante Sawyer
DT2: Phillip Dukes
DE1: Cedrick Cooper
DE2: David Johnson
Newcomers Marquavius Lewis and Dante Sawyer have bullied their way into the Gamecocks’ starting defensive line and should provide stability to a unit that struggled against the run in 2014 and finished last in the SEC in sacks (14).
WLB1: Jonathan Walton
WLB2: Bryson Allen-Williams
MLB1: Skai Moore
MLB2: T.J. Holloman
SPUR1: T.J. Gurley
SPUR2: Jasper Sasser
The Gamecocks are mighty athletic at the position, but aside from Moore, need to be more consistent tacklers. Walton flashed in the team’s bowl game and could be in position for a breakout season.
CB1: Rico McWilliams
CB2: Jamari Smith
CB1: Chris Lammons
CB2: Al Harris Jr.
SS1: Isaiah Johnson
SS2: Chaz Elder
FS1: Jordan Diggs
FS2: Chris Moody
The Gamecocks’ secondary, which finished No. 82 in the nation in pass defense, has a new look thanks to transfers Isaiah Johnson and Jordan Diggs, who have already assumed first team roles early on in camp. Veteran T.J. Gurley heads up the squad’s SPUR position, after three years at safety.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Elliott Fry
P: Sean Kelly
KR: Shon Carson
PR: Pharoh Cooper
Chris Wuensch is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers South Carolina and Tennessee.
