Gamecocks When Will the Gamecocks Be Good Again

Kevin Harris, South Carolina Gamecocks Football

With a new coach comes renewed hope, and South Carolina certainly needed information technology. The arrival of young, energetic and passionate Shane Beamer did more than for the fan base of operations in three months than the stodgy, businesslike Will Muschamp did in five years.

Beamer has been and so practiced at community outreach, taking part in social media initiatives and attending other events around campus, that it's been easy to say, "The culture has changed!" and to think a return to the heady days of Steve Spurrier is merely around the corner. Beamer was a huge part of those days; from 2007-10, he helped construct a roster that paid off from 2010-13 in the best-ever stretch of Gamecock football.

His excitement about his dream job has convinced a fan base starved for success that he can practice what Spurrier did. They ignore the history and the numbers that unequivocally land that the Gamecocks are a struggling program, stuck in a briefing that gives them a national profile only one that they can't have advantage of during football game flavour. They're besides looking past the fact that this twelvemonth's roster is non strong.

"I'one thousand honored to exist your head football coach, but this is your program," Beamer said. "Nosotros're but getting started."

His commencement, due to the roster shortcomings he inherited, could exist extremely rocky.

Related: Athlon Sports' College Football Summit 25 for 2021

Previewing South Carolina'due south Criminal offense for 2021

The Gamecocks render one of the nearly dynamic players in the country in Kevin Harris, who took over for the injured MarShawn Lloyd terminal yr and promptly posted the 11th i,000-g rushing flavour in school history. Information technology's non outlandish to think, "Quarterback Luke Doty can run a bit … why not group him with two running backs and run the triple-selection?"

USC won't practise that (most likely), but ane never knows with the question marks throughout the unit of measurement. The line is sturdy, with the right side of center Eric Douglas, correct guard Jovaughn Gwyn and correct tackle Dylan Wonnum not missing a start final twelvemonth, just the other skill positions beside running back are unknowns.

The starting quarterback spot volition be decided between sophomore Doty and transfer Jason Chocolate-brown. Doty started the final two games of last twelvemonth, while Brown had a swell career at FCS St. Francis (Pa.) but did non play last season afterwards the Red Flash canceled their season due to the pandemic.

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The receivers entered last flavour every bit Shi Smith and the No-Names. Now Smith has gone to the NFL, and not one of the anonymous names last year distinguished himself. The Gamecocks did get a boost when tight end Nick Muse returned. He's the top pass-catcher other than Smith last yr. Otherwise? Josh Vann and Xavier Legette volition play just have however to actually produce. Last year's mid-flavor pickup, Jalen Brooks, defenseless a mere 11 assurance, while Dakereon Joyner by and large ran routes and then jogged back to the line. Brown's top man from St. Francis, the half dozen'7" Due east.J. Jenkins, came with him and will brand a fine target for the QB.

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Previewing South Carolina'southward Defense for 2021

The line is probably the deepest unit on the squad in terms of veterans, and the onus is on the DL to anchor the entire defence. Merely put, the Gamecocks lost so much in the dorsum end that they're going to take to finish teams up front end.

With edge rushers Kingsley "J.J." Enagbare and Aaron Sterling returning, plus backups Jordan Burch and Tonka Hemingway, the Gamecocks take a strong nucleus that can hopefully solve their pass-rushing problems. They also added Georgia State transfer Jordan Strachan, who tied for the FBS lead in sacks in 2022 with 10.5.

Linebacker Ernest Jones departed for the NFL, depriving the Gamecocks of a player who was productive and seemingly always in the right spot. Damani Staley played hard simply was often exposed.

New defensive coordinator Clayton White will experiment with a 4-two-five scheme, which should save some habiliment and tear on the LBs. The Gamecocks welcome back Rosendo Louis Jr., Sherrod Greene, Mohamed Kaba and Jahmar Brown, who each missed chunks of terminal flavor with injuries.

USC lost 5 defensive backs to the NFL or the transfer portal, and while it does return some veterans such equally Cam Smith and Jaylin Dickerson, the guys who made the plays are gone.

Fifty-fifty simplifying the scheme from Muschamp's NFL-heavy terminology may non help, as the Gamecocks plan to play generally nickel. They may non have enough people to fill up that 5th office effectively.

Previewing Due south Carolina's Specialists for 2021

The Gamecocks are solid here, with Parker White returning for a fifth year at placekicker and having a strong take a chance to pause the schoolhouse'due south career scoring marking. Punter Kai Kroeger was a jewel as a freshman.

Final Analysis

Excitement is rampant in Columbia, but the S Carolina roster simply has a couple of stars. The Gamecocks could easily double their wins from concluding year (two to four), simply there are however eight games that could go either way. Some think a 6–6 flavor and bowl berth would be the low end. From viewing the roster, that outcome would appear to exist more miraculous than feasible.

National Ranking: 74

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(Kevin Harris photo past South Carolina Athletics, courtesy of gamecocksonline.com)

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Source: https://athlonsports.com/college-football/south-carolina-football-gamecocks-prediction-preview-2021

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