2023 Record: 5-7 (3-5)
AP Ranking: NR
Head Coach: Shane Beamer
If you follow my podcast or Instagram, then I am sorry to admit that I predicted the Gamecocks to win 10 games a season ago. Hand up, I bought into the Spencer Rattler hype from the Tennessee game in 2022. There were real reasons to be excited, but this is a perfect example of why you cannot just focus on skill position players. The offensive line was atrocious and the defense did their best, but when you average just 22.7 points per game against Power-5 opponents, it’s tough to overcome.
The portal giveth and taketh. South Carolina did lose Antwane Wells, Mario Anderson, Stone Blanton and Pup Howard to the portal, but brought in key pieces that easily replaced what they lost. One could argue the Gamecocks have the most depth we have seen since 2012 and that is all thanks to the Transfer Portal.
Key Transfer Portal Pickups (Ranked #11 according to On3):
RB Raheim “Rocket” Sanders – Arkansas (4-Star)
WR Jared Brown – Coastal Carolina (3-Star)
WR Vandrevious Jacobs – Florida State (3-Star)
EDGE Kyle Kennard – Georgia tech (3-Star)
These are just to name a few of the players expected to make an impact in their first season in Columbia, the class totalled 21 players.
The main issue a season ago was the offensive line; it was shaky to begin with, but add injuries into the equation and it resulted in a complete meltdown. Now two pieces picked up in the portal have won starting roles on this offensive line: Kamaar Bell (FAU) and Torricelli Simpkins (NC Central). Not to mention, 5-Star true freshman, Josiah Thompson, appears to have won the left tackle starting position. When you factor in bringing in three new starters, while retaining the freshman from a season ago who were forced into action (Tree Babalade, Trovon Baugh, Markee Anderson), you now have the depth we were craving last year. Injuries are inevitable and the Gamecocks are in a much stronger position for 2024.
This is a new look for the offense with the skill positions. Rattler and Legette are off to the league. Now, redshirt freshman Lanorris Sellers will assume quarterback duties. There’s a reason fans did not want the staff to go after KJ Jefferson in the portal, the hype is very real for the young quarterback. In limited action a season ago, Sellers threw 4 passes, had 4 completions and 2 touchdowns. Certainly a small sample size, but we saw enough. Gamecock Nation has their guy. He brings a different skill set to the table as he may be the most athletically gifted quarterback in the SEC outside of Jalen Milroe. There will be growing pains, but his talent will shine this season.
Every young quarterback wishes for a running back like Rocket Sanders. We are only two years removed from a season where the only rusher better in the country was Quinshon Judkins. In 2022, Sanders rushed for 1,443 yards. This past season he dealt with some injuries at Arkansas, but he is 100% now and got back to his weight from 2022. Last season, Arkansas had asked him to bulk up to 240 and that may have contributed to the injuries, but he is back to 220 and has spoken about how great he has felt in camp this summer
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On the perimeter, Carolina will look to some key transfers to become instant contributors. Nyck Harbor is the main returning piece, a former 5-Star who stands 6’5 and is a track star. Outside of Harbor, it appears Jared Brown, Gage Larvadain and Vandrevius Jacobs will be the first to see action on the field this season. Gage and Brown are each seasoned and accomplished receivers. There is talent in the receiving corps, we will see who earns the most playing time as the season goes on.
Defensively, the Gamecocks return 9 starters from a season ago. As we have already mentioned, this is the deepest we have seen a South Carolina roster in a long time and that continues to the defensive side of the ball. The trenches are anchored by the elite trio of Tonka Hemingway, Boogie Huntley and T.J. Sanders, all of which have been very productive in their Gamecock careers. The name to watch on the line is Dylan Stewart: the gem of the 2024 class as a 5-Star out of high school.
The linebacking group is led by Debo Williams who totalled 113 tackles a season ago. He’ll be joined by the duo of Bam Martin-Scott and Demetrius Knight. Mo Kaba, a Gamecock fan favorite, returns after another season ending injury in 2023.
In the secondary, the safeties may be the best duo in the SEC. Nick Emmanwori is one of the elite defensive players in all of college football and his stock continues to rise. On the perimeter, OD Fortune and Judge Collier both held starting roles at times last season and we should expect to see a jump in progression this season. Jalon Kilgore will hold down the Nickel position and is the best all around coverage defender on the roster.
South Carolina has talent up and down the roster. The potential issues lie within the schedule. They are due to face seven ranked opponents and hold the 17th toughest schedule in the country according to ESPN.
6-6 is a stretch goal according to some, most Carolina fans see that as the minimum. The key is a want to see progression in Shane Beamer. He holds a 20-18 record since becoming the Head Coach, but missed bowl eligibility a season ago. That will only be a more difficult task this season given the schedule.
Pete Lembo is gone as the Special Teams Coordinator (Head Coach at Buffalo), but the Gamecocks acquired a huge addition in bringing Shawn Elliott back to Columbia. In his seven seasons with South Carolina, he was an integral part of the three consecutive 11-win seasons from 2011-2013. In his time as Head Coach at Georgia State, he produced one of the best rushing offenses in the country and that will be a key focus of his as he partners with OC Dowell Loggains now to help create a multi-dimensional offense.
Shane Beamer knows how important this season will be. Recruiting has been a strong suit for this staff, but in today’s College Football, they do need to begin generating on-field results. They do not need to shock the world, but a key victory or two over a ranked opponent will go a long way to ensuring his tenure in Columbia.
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