When trying to dissect South Carolina’s 2023 season, there’s plenty to be excited about and plenty to be worried about. In the early going, it can be an uneasy feeling for the Gamecocks’ faithful.

Yet this is a South Carolina team that won 8 games last season and gained plenty of respect with wins over Tennessee and Clemson in the closing weeks before it lost a 45-38 shootout to Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl to finish 8-5.

There was plenty of speculation when several Gamecocks bolted from Columbia via the transfer portal, and stud quarterback Spencer Rattler was expected to leave for the NFL Draft.

But Rattler is back for his final year with an altered unit around him, some holes to fill on defense and 34 new players on the overall roster for 3rd-year head coach Shane Beamer, whose teams have won 15 combined games in his 1st 2 years.

Do the Gamecocks have enough pieces in place to take the next step or will they slide back into mediocrity?

Here are 10 bold predictions for how they can continue to climb the ladder:

1. Count the records

Rattler threw for 3,026 yards last year, with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Look for new offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains to turn Rattler loose this fall, especially with the running game likely off to a slow start.

Rattler will either pass or be in the range of the record for the season yards mark of 3,564, completion percentage of 67.5, and completions (270) and attempts (451). He also has a shot at individual game totals for completions (35) and attempts (59).

The Gamecocks need a big season from Rattler, who will be looking to raise his stock for the draft.

2. It will be the charm

The 3rd year of several noted South Carolina football coaches hasn’t been a good 1. And, ironically, 15 is the magic number.

Joe Morrison led his club to a 10-2 record in 1984 and had 15 wins over 2 years. He then fell to a 5-6 mark in Year 3.

Steve Spurrier also had 15 wins over 2 years, but he had a 6-6 finish in Year 3 after winning 9 games in his 1st year.

Will Muschamp also logged 15 wins in his 1st 2 years but had a 7-6 record in his 3rd campaign after a 9-win season.

Will Beamer incur the same curse? No, he won’t.

3. Line them up

The offensive line has been a point of contention for the past 2 seasons.

There are high expectations for Yale transfer and graduate student Nick Gargiulo, who is 6-5, 310 pounds and is expected to bring some stability. He is a highly regarded run blocker.

Junior Vershon Lee moves from left guard to center, and Gargiulo and junior Trai Jones will be at the guard spots. Junior Tyshawn Wannamaker and senior Jakai Moore will man the tackle positions.

This should be a stable and consistent unit.

4. Another Hemingway best-seller

Senior defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway emerged as a budding star last season, as he made 9 starts in 13 games. He finished the season with 33 tackles and 4 sacks. He is a steady force among some unstable forces along the defensive front.

Along with his defensive prowess, Hemingway gained notoriety for running in a 2-point conversion and catching a 16-yard touchdown pass off a fake field-goal attempt. The football stars appear to be aligned for him.

5. A deep well

Wide receiver Antwane “Juice” Wells had a banner year last season after his transfer from James Madison, where he had a strong season in 2021. He will certainly raise the bar this season, as All-America honors are anticipated.

Wells became a favorite target of Rattler and achieved All-SEC honors with 68 catches for 928 yards and 6 touchdowns. Look for Wells to set program records for receptions and yardage in a season, with both marks being held by Alshon Jeffery. Wells also has a great shot to break the single-game receptions record of 14, also held by Jeffery.

6. Home sweet home

The Gamecocks have the benefit of 7 home games this season and have a battle with North Carolina to kick off the season in Charlotte.

They will run the table at home this season, defeating Furman, Mississippi State, Florida (homecoming), Jacksonville State, Vanderbilt, Kentucky and, most importantly, Clemson. The latter will be a wild night for the 77,000-plus fans.

7. No jinx here

Sophomore defensive backs Nick Emmanwori and DQ Smith both had breakthrough years as freshmen last season, and they won’t be victims of a sophomore jinx. Both will continue to develop in the secondary.
Emmanwori led the team in tackles with 85, while Smith was 4th with 54 and had 2 interceptions.

8. Famous guy

Senior punter Kai Kroeger burst onto the scene last year and was a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award. He had 58 punts for a 46.1-yard average and nearly doubled his punts-inside-the-20 percentage. Kroeger also was 4-for-4 passing and tossed 2 touchdowns on fake punts. As a result, he was an All-SEC selection.
He’ll have another big year and win the Guy Award.

9. Special times

Last season, the Gamecocks’ special teams proved to be 1 of the most effective in the college game, as they blocked 6 kicks and 5 punts. With the aforementioned punter Kroeger, they registered 5 touchdowns.
Head special teams coach Pete Lembo received recognitions from several outlets, and he’ll keep the magic moving.

He’ll have some new faces to work through his unit, but Lembo will get the job done.

10. The Gamecocks will finish 9-3

Based on the above predictions, these Gamecocks will finish with an overall 9-3 record. They were voted as the 3rd team in a preseason SEC East poll, and they received 1 vote to win the title.

South Carolina will go 7-0 at home as well as defeat North Carolina in Charlotte. The Gamecocks will also beat Missouri on the road and likely find a spot or 2 in the Top 25 poll.

It will be a monumental season for Rattler, and the defense will piece it all together.