South Carolina football: 5 areas where the Gamecocks will be better … and worse in 2023
South Carolina took a major step forward last season. The Gamecocks have elevated their status for this season, as expectations continue to be on the upswing.
Yet, there is trepidation in the ranks. There is still uneasiness about the season.
Are there some areas that will improve while others slip? On paper, it would appear that the Gamecocks’ running and passing games will take a hit due to losses, but it shouldn’t be a major decline.
Here are 5 areas where the Gamecocks should improve and 5 areas that could get worse:
5 areas the Gamecocks will be better
1. Fewer turnovers
In 2022, South Carolina committed an SEC-high 27 turnovers, 13 on fumbles and 14 on interceptions. If the Gamecocks are to contend this fall, they will need to significantly lower that mark. Tennessee led the league in turnovers in 2021, but the Volunteers committed just 11 last season.
Quarterback Spencer Rattler was responsible for 12 of those turnovers, and he will need to lower that mark.
2. Special teams
Head special teams coach Pete Lembo weaved his magic last season to the tune of 6 blocked kicks and 5 blocked punts. The Gamecocks also registered 5 touchdowns, 2 courtesy of punter Kai Kroeger, who averaged better than 46 yards per kick.
Placekicker Mitch Jeter made all 11 field-goal attempts and converted 42 of 44 extra-point attempts.
Look for Lembo’s unit to be a gamechanger again, and for Kroeger and Jeter to have big seasons.
3. Quarterback
Rattler threw for 3,026 yards with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He will have a questionable running attack and a solid passing game to begin the season.
Rattler slowly became the face of the program with wins over Tennessee and Clemson down the stretch. Rattler decided to return for his final year and declined to enter the NFL Draft. This season, he will have the draft on his mind, and he will look to undertake a lot of the offense on his own. Rattler has the potential to set some program records this fall.
The running and receiving game will need some time to develop, and this will be Rattler’s spot to shine. If Rattler struggles, it will be a major blow to the program and his future.
4. Offensive guard and tackle
The Gamecocks’ O-line struggled mightily at the start of last season and played a role in Rattler’s inconsistency. The unit was sluggish in run blocking, inconsistent in pass protection and allowed too many tackles for loss. Overall, there was improvement, but it wasn’t a good year.
South Carolina has a number of pieces back, but Charlotte transfer left tackle Jaxon Hughes and Yale transfer guard Nick Gargiulo should be able to further solidify the situation.
This is another area that is vital for a bowl-bound season.
5. Freshman class
The Gamecocks’ class was ranked by most publications anywhere from 13th to 17th, and it would be expected to be around 10th in the league.
Head coach Shane Beamer has plenty of praise for his 1st-year players after their scrimmage. Receiver Nyck Harbor was impressive, and he could get some quality playing time this fall.
Beamer has also been astonished by the play of edge rusher Dylan Stewart, linemen Kam Pringle and Josiah Thompson, and running backs Djay Braswell and Kamron Smith.
A major contribution from the freshmen class will fortify the overall depth and also play a major role in overall development.
5 areas the Gamecocks will be worse
1. Run defense
This was a major area to address in the offseason. The Gamecocks allowed 200 or more yards on the ground in 7 games last year.
Losing Jordan Burch to Oregon was a major blow. South Carolina has the size on the front line, but its lack of a pass rush caused some major issues for the run defense.
Junior-college transfer Elijah Davis’ stock has risen since the spring game, and he will be plugged in somewhere. Tonka Hemingway, who began to establish himself last year, needs to be a force.
It will be a matter of progression, and it could be a bigger problem.
2. Running game
Marshawn Lloyd looked like the answer in the Gamecocks’ running game, as he was an effective lead back. But Lloyd was not the same runner due to injuries in late October, and he chose to head west to Southern California.
With a few more losses, there suddenly was a huge void. Juju McDowell was a change-of-pace back last season, and he will be in a major role. Mario Anderson, a Newberry College transfer, rushed for 1,560 yards last season. Dakereon Joyner, who saw some time last year with 56 yards rushing, will also be counted on.
A quick development here is the key, but don’t look for any major numbers.
3. Pass rush
Life on the defensive front couldn’t have been much worse for the Gamecocks last season. The unit recorded just 20 sacks, which was 110th in the nation. In turn, it allowed a 3rd-down conversion rate of 43%, which was 18th-worse in the nation. It was a major reason for the number of shootouts the Gamecocks encountered last year.
Jordan Strachan and Mohamed Kaba are both coming off knee injuries, and their return to form will likely be a slow pace. There are some promising youngsters in the mix, but the Gamecocks likely will find themselves with the same amount of production as last year or even worse.
4. Center
Vershawn Lee moves to center from guard, replacing Eric Douglas, who was a mainstay there. Ryan Brubaker is a 6-6, 304-pound redshirt freshman and certainly brings some likeable and workable size.
There will be an initial drop off, but Lee should be able to become more comfortable with the position as the year progresses. It could spin into a more detrimental position, and there will be a noticeable difference.
5. Receiving corps
Antwane “Juice” Wells surfaced as Rattler’s favorite target last year, and he also established himself as 1 of the league’s premier receivers.
The unit did get hit hard with graduations and transfers, but Xaiver Legette is back on the other side. Legette will need to shed his return production, and he will be thrust into a full-time role.
Memphis transfer Eddie Lewis is a burner and will be in the slot. Trey Knox is a transfer from Arkansas, and he will need to be impactful. Nyck Harbor looked good in the team’s scrimmage and could be a regular contributor.
Wells and Knox were injured at the beginning of camp, but they are expected to be ready for the start of the season.
This unit could go either way, but it should be able to post the needed numbers to help the team succeed.