The South Carolina Gamecocks head into their bowl game with a 6-6 record, but much of the criticism for this season has fallen on the shoulders of defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward.

To say South Carolina’s defense was disappointing this season is a vast understatement. The Gamecocks finished the regular season giving up 433 yards per game and recorded just 12 sacks, good for last in the SEC.

And while Ward is certainly deserving of the criticism, his loss on the coaching staff would mean an even bigger loss on the recruiting trail.

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The third-year defensive coordinator is arguably South Carolina’s strongest recruiter. In the past, Ward has pulled in the likes of running back Mike Davis, linebacker Bryson Allen-Williams and others. In the last four seasons, Ward’s brought in 15 key contributors to South Carolina, and played a key role in the Gamecocks’ three 10-win seasons from 2011-13.

And Ward’s continued his recruiting 2015 success into this year.

Already, he’s the reason why two key defensive recruits — safety Antione Wilder and defensive end Arden Key — are committed to coming to Columbia next season. Key figures to provide immediate help to the Gamecocks’ issues with pressure from the defensive line.

But perhaps Ward’s biggest impact on the recruiting trail is the area in which he recruits — Atlanta and north Georgia. The northern half of that state provides some of the best high school football talent in the country and it’s an area of huge importance for the Gamecocks’ success.

And with several schools vying for the same recruits in that area, Ward leaving South Carolina would significantly set the Gamecocks back in Atlanta. Relationships remain the most important recruiting tool for schools and if these prized recruits lose that connection with South Carolina, the Gamecocks would immediately be on the outside looking in.

As far as recruiting goes as a whole for South Carolina, the Gamecocks also have some more issues to deal with, especially head coach Steve Spurrier’s “2-3 years” comment. With some negative attention already coming from that mistake and with six de-committs since October, a dismissal of Ward from the coaching staff would create the wrong kind of recruiting momentum for the Gamecocks in 2015.

Ward’s importance to recruiting might just be what earns him another year to build the Gamecocks’ defense both on the field and on the recruiting trail.