South Carolina football: 10 burning questions as the Gamecocks head into the offseason
South Carolina’s 45-38 loss to Notre Dame in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl easily could have been a microcosm of its season. There was the good, the bad, and the ugly. It was the type of game that revealed their strengths, weaknesses and those that need to be disregarded – good special teams, bad run defense and needless penalties for starters in their respective order.
The Gamecocks finished 8-5 (4-4 SEC) and did pull their season up from the depths of mediocrity with remarkable late-season victories over Tennessee and Clemson. Whatever momentum might have been lost in the bowl game already has been regained with recent personnel decisions.
So, what are 10 burning questions facing the Gamecocks as they begin their offseason? Here are some thoughts:
1. Will Spencer Rattler be the best QB in the SEC?
The Gamecocks got a huge boost when Rattler announced he was returning for another season.
Not long after, leading receiver Juice Wells also announced he was returning. Wells led the Gamecocks with 68 catches for 928 yards last season; he just missed becoming their first 1,000-yard receiver since Pharoh Cooper in 2015.
Rattler threw for 3,026 yards, which ranks 6th in Gamecocks history. He’s primed to make a run at Dylan Thompson’s single-season program record (3,564 yards, set in 2014). With a 3,100-yard season next year, Rattler also would move into the top 5 on the Gamecocks’ career list.
Rattler can benefit from another season with the Gamecocks, as his chances of being a first-round pick in 2023 were mixed at best.
2. Will the Gamecocks continue their progression in terms of wins and overall progress?
This year’s expectations were to win at least 7 games, and possibly steal 1 or 2 more. South Carolina did that with their late-season surge, but getting past the 8-win mark next season won’t be easy.
There has been a big turnover, and there could be more down the road. South Carolina has established itself as a team that will hover around the Top 25 mark, but coach Shane Beamer’s high-flying birds of 2022 may fly a little lower next year. Beamer is excited about his current recruiting class, but he’ll need some to make immediate impacts if the Gamecocks are looking at a high ceiling for next season. Even with Rattler returning, personnel losses could make next season a transition year.
3. Will next year’s schedule work in their favor?
Looking at a level of transition as previously mentioned above, the Gamecocks could get to the seven-win mark and above by the benefit of their schedule.
They will open Sept. 2 against North Carolina at a neutral site – a team they beat in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl last year – and then host Furman the following week. The battle for “Carolina” could be a shootout if Drake Maye and Rattler perform as expected. If South Carolina has other pieces in the right places, they could open 2-0, which would be a tremendous boost.
The Gamecocks have other winnable games against Jacksonville State and Vanderbilt – both at home – and on the road against Missouri. A key game will be at home against Florida, which thumped them in The Swamp last season.
The debatable games are Texas A&M (at College Station), Kentucky and Clemson, facing the latter 2 at Willy B. The Gamecocks actually close the season with 4 consecutive home games.
I would like to think they could win 7 with this schedule if all breaks right, but we’ll know better after the opener.
4. Can new offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains make a quick adjustment?
Loggains showed some wrinkles of what a 2023 offense could look like in the Notre Dame game. He is a 16-year NFL veteran who was either a quarterbacks coach or offensive coordinator. Loggains’ last stint was as an offensive coordinator with the Jets where he worked with Sam Darnold.
Former offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield came under fire for not opening up the offense early in the season last year until he became more aggressive in the second half.
Loggains showed that he wasn’t afraid to take chances and ran some Wildcat with his receivers against Notre Dame. Returning Rattler and Wells is a great place to start, but the burning question is what tools will he have left when the smoke finally clears from the other transfers.
5. Who will be the lead running back next season?
The Gamecocks thought they had that question answered with the emergence of redshirt sophomore MarShawn Lloyd. He was on his way to a probable 1,000-yard season until a calf injury slowed him to a shadow of himself. Surprisingly, Lloyd entered the transfer portal.
Junior Juju McDowell will get the first crack here. McDowell ran for 291 yards behind Lloyd (team-high 573) and Jaheim Bell, who also portaled out. McDowell has the speed to cut outside well, and the Gamecocks will need to find a consistent blocking back for him.
McDowell was projected to have a possible breakout season this year, and the door will be left open for him next August. Rashad Amos, a reserve who might have figured into the rotation next year, recently transferred to Miami (Ohio).
The Gamecocks did add Dontavius Braswell, a 4-star prospect from Georgia and the No. 16-ranked running back in the country. Braswell had offers from Tennessee and Alabama, among others.
6. Will the special teams unit continue to shine?
Yes, they had a banner year and look for more of the same next season.
Special teams coach Pete Lembo’s unit blocked five punts and returned two for touchdowns. Punter Kai Kroeger was a perfect 4-for-4 in passing off a fake, and 2 were for touchdowns. Kroeger averaged 46.1 per punt.
Kicker Mitch Jeter was a perfect 11-for 11 on field-goal attempts, his longest being a 53-yarder. The Gamecocks had steady production all season from their punt and kickoff return teams.
7. Can the Gamecocks find a consistent edge rusher?
This will be a tricky situation, and one likely answered by the beginning of next season.
Senior Jordan Strachan went down with a season-ending ACL injury in Week 2 and is applying for a medical waiver. Junior Jordan Burch, who had 56 tackles, 3.5 sack, and 10 quarterback hurries, is transferring to Oregon.
Gilber Edmund, who had a productive year, and developing end Hot Rod Fitton, are trasferring, too.
How the Gamecocks revamp their defensive line will be one of the hot topics in spring and fall camp.
Desmond Umeozulu and Monteque Rhames are 4-star recruits at the position, but they may not be ready for meaningful minutes.
8. Can the secondary return to their elite status?
Over the past few seasons, the Gamecocks’ secondary has been regarded as one of the elites in the SEC. They ranked 5th in the SEC in 2022, allowing an average of 199.5 yards per game during the regular season, and Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner threw for 294 yards with 3 touchdowns.
But they RJ Roderick, Cam Smith, Darius Rush, and Devonni Reed are gone. South Carolina will return leading tackler Nick Emmanwori along with DQ Smith and Marcellas Dial, both of whom were solid most of the season. Dial had a team-high 3 interceptions
O’Donnell Fortune stepped into the lineup and returned an interception 100 yards for a score in the Gator Bowl. He will be among a horde of new faces vying for time next season.
The secondary certainly has the potential to again be among the league’s best, and will take some time to develop depth.
9. Can the offensive line retool in time before the season?
Up front, the Gamecocks had some questions to answer before the 2022 season, and the reviews were mixed. They played well in upset wins, but the Gamecocks still finished 12th in the SEC in rushing and only 2 SEC teams allowed more than their 31 sacks.
Now they must replace center Eric Douglas, a stabilizing force, along with right guard Jovaughn Gwyn and right tackle Dylan Wonnum.
The Gamecocks recruited heavily for offensive lineman and landed 4-star OL Markee Anderson. They also have been actively trying to entice transfers their way.
Like some other positions, this will be a work in progress, and one initially that will start slowly with the progression.
10. Will the overall defense improve?
The Gamecocks allowed 28.8 points per game (t-10th in SEC), 206.7 passing (5th) and 198 rushing (13th) in 2022. Clearly, there is room to improve.
The most glaring candidate is their rush defense. Their inability to stop the run was critical in their 5 defeats, and there were plenty of victories in which the total was too high. There were also too many games in which the Gamecocks looked worn down in the second half.
Junior tackle Tonka Hemingway surfaced as a run-stopper and game disrupter with two fumble recoveries and team-high four sacks. Senior linebackers Brad Johnson and Sherrod Greene are gone as forces in the middle, but sophomore Debo Williams should elevate his play.
Defensive coordinator Clayton White could hear some rumblings about his future if the Gamecocks can’t tighten this side of the football.