Now that the dust has settled on the first (albeit abbreviated) recruiting cycle for South Carolina coach Will Muschamp and his staff, we can now turn our attention back to the field.

So, on the heels of a 3-9 season and a change in coaching staff, what is the biggest concern for the Gamecocks next fall?

It could be the quarterback position. Is incoming recruit Brandon McIlwain the answer? Will Connor Mitch re-emerge from the witness protection program? Can Lorenzo Nunez win the job and stay healthy? Or will the guy who was there from start to finish in 2015 — former walk-on Perry Orth — use the experience he gained to earn the starting nod once again?

Once the coaching staff unties that knot, another remains at wide receiver. Pharoh Cooper was Mr. Reliable at the position for the past two seasons, but he’s taking his talents to the NFL. Ditto for the team’s second-leading receiver, tight end Jerrell Adams. Some of the new recruits — guys like Bryan Edwards, Kiel Pollard and Randrecous Davis — will need to contribute right away. And last year’s freshmen, namely Deebo Samuel, Terry Googer and D.J. Neal, will need to do more.

And what about the people tasked with solving these issues? Did Muschamp learn from his lackluster tenure as Florida’s coach? Is Travaris Robinson ready to be a defensive coordinator? How will the offense look with Kurt Roper and Bryan McClendon calling the shots?

A case could be made for any of these questions as the biggest facing South Carolina in the months leading up to the 2016 season. But, for me, there’s one glaring issue that trumps them all.

How can South Carolina fix its defensive line?

There were only 18 teams in the FBS that were worse against the run last season than the Gamecocks were in 2015. They allowed more than 5.1 yards per carry and 26 rushing touchdowns last season, and it only seemed like half of those came against The Citadel in a stunning loss.

In addition to being ineffective against the run, South Carolina also finished near the bottom of the league with 20 sacks, paced by Darius English’s 4.5.

The team finished last in scoring and total defense, and much of the blame has to lie with the defensive line.

It must have been the most critical area of need on the roster, if you look at this year’s recruiting class.

Six defensive ends and two tackles are listed among the incoming recruits, while DE Keir Thomas and DT Kobe Smith are already in school and will be taking part in spring practice.

2016 DL NEWCOMERS

PLAYER POSITION STARS HT. WGT.
Stephon Taylor DT 4 6-4 292
Aaron Thompson DE 3 6-4 265
Keir Thomas DE 3 6-2 249
Kobe Smith DT 3 6-4 295
Darius Whitfield DE 3 6-3 265
Sadarius Hutcherson DE 3 6-6 250
Dennis Wonnum DE 3 6-4 225
Griffin Gentry DE 2 6-2 255

The team nabbed its best defensive line recruit, four-star tackle Stephon Taylor, and end Aaron Thompson on Signing Day. Taylor is certainly a candidate to play right away, while Thompson, Thomas and the rest of the recruits will try to fight their way into the rotation as well.

There are a few key returnees for the unit, but they’re clearly on notice with an incoming class this large.

2016 KEY DL RETURNEES

PLAYER POSITION HT. WGT.
Marquavius Lewis DE 6-3 264
Boosie Whitlow DE 6-3 240
Darius English DE 6-6 225
Dante Sawyer DT 6-3 291
Taylor Stallworth DT 6-2 308

Lewis (45 tackles, 3 sacks) and Sawyer (18 tackles, 2.5 sacks) were JUCO transfers that got a year’s worth of SEC experience last fall. The same is true for English, who was the team’s most consistent pass rusher.

Don’t be shocked if English, Whitlow and some of the recruits play a little outside linebacker, since Muschamp (and, one would assume, his new coordinator) favors alternating 4-3 and 3-4 looks in the front seven.

Whether it’s the experienced guys taking a step up in production, or a talented newcomer — or several of them — making an immediate impact, this is a unit that needs to play better for the Gamecocks to improve on last season’s performance.