South Carolina football is trying to reascend to their glory days under Steve Spurrier. Here are the names on each side that will try to make it happen.
As old South Carolina coach, Spurrier, would say talking season is over and it’s time to get to work. Current coach Will Muschamp has said his piece at SEC Media Days and now it’s time to walk the walk and get ready for the 2017 schedule.
The start of the college season is under 50 days away. The players, coaches and fans in Columbia, SC are ready for a turnaround season. The Gamecocks have the talent to make a run to win the SEC East and go to Atlanta.
Atlanta, the home of the SEC Championship, is the goal for every team in this conference. And for the first time in a while the depth in Carolina is good enough to make back to the championship game. Coach Muschamp has worked his southern charm on the recruits for a year and still has some of the talent left over from the Spurrier era.
Now its time to see how the depth chart will shake out this year.
Offensive Line
Starting Tackles: Malik Young (LT), Zack Bailey (RT)
Backups: Sadarius Hutcherson, Blake Camper
Young and Bailey should definitely be more improved than last year. Both have been in the program long enough and need to anchor down the edge for their young quarterback. Bailey and Young both have a quality amounts of starts. Young came into the 2016 season as a backup but ended the year with nine starts. While Bailey, spent the whole 2016 campaign as a starter and held down the right tackle position.
If any of these starters go down, junior Blake Camper will more than likely be the next guy up. Camper has six starts under his belt and could step in immediately to fill any holes in the tackle position. Sadarius Hutcherson is young lineman who has shown promise on the scout team, but Carolina fans would rather see him as a backup for now.
Starting Guards: D.J. Park (LG), Cory Helms (RG)
Backups: Donell Stanley, Christian Pellage
D.J. Park and Donell Stanley have been battling for the starting position for over year. Last year, Stanley had the job won until injuries lost the job to Park. So, really Muschamp has a tenuous situation at the left guard position. While at the right guard position, it is a wrap. Cory Helms is starting right guard, unless he goes down with an injury. The former Wake Forest Demon Deacon started 11 of 12 games as a freshman and earned All-Freshman honors. After a year of sitting, he came back harder than ever starting all 13 games for the Gamecocks last year.
Christian Pellage is a very talented sophomore and could see some playing time on special teams but would be downgrade from Park, Stanley or Helms.
Starting Center: Alan Knott
Backup: Chandler Farrell
Alan Knott is very talented but has face many injuries in his career as a Gamecock. Even with his injuries his 29 starts leads this group of hogs. If Knott can have his first and only healthy season, he could end up being an All-SEC player and drafted in the 2018 NFL Draft.
His backup Chandler Farrell is a former walk-on and has served as the backup to Knott for the last year. In 2018, Farrell is definitely going to be on track to be the starting center.
Defensive Line
Starting Tackles: Taylor Stallworth, Ulrich Jones
Backups: Kobe Smith, Keir Thomas
The two starting DT need to play better, point-blank. Period. They have the size and talent to do it, but they just haven’t yet. Taylor Stallworth has been part of the team for his whole career and is only credited with 57 tackles and 18 starts. Ulrich Jones is a transfer from Bulter Community College in Kansas. Last year, he had 42 tackles and eight starts. If these two can play like the 300-pound seniors they are, the defense will improve leaps and bounds.
Sophomore Keir Thomas might actually see more starts in 2017 if either one of the starters aren’t pleasing Muschamp. In his freshman season, Thomas had 24 tackles, two sacks and two starts. While Kobe Smith is an upcoming player that played in 11 games and recorded four tackles.
These two will be the future of the positions in 2018.
Starting Ends: Dante Sawyer, Dennis Wonnum
Backups: Shameik Blackshear, Daniel Fennell
Just like the tackles, the ends need to play better in 2017. Dante Sawyer, a former East Mississippi C.C. player, has the potential to be a game-wrecker but has not shown it. 2017 needs to be his breakout season. At the other end position, Dennis “DJ” Wonnum will be coming off of a true freshman season where he recorded 32 tackles.
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Their backups Shameik Blackshear and Daniel Fennell are right behind them in the depth chart. The competition at the end position should lift the level of these four players. If Blackshear can get over his injury bug he can reach his potential and be in the backfield a lot in 2017.
Linebackers
Starting Outside backers: Skai Moore, Bryson Allen-Williams
Backups: Brad Johnson, Davonne Bowen
Moore and Allen-Williams are the heart and soul of the defense. Moore is coming off an injury that sidelined him in 2016. In 2015, he totaled 111 tackles, the most since Jasper Brinkley (2006). In Williams’ career he has tallied 125 tackles and 14.5 tackles for loss. The outside backer position at USC is the best unit right now. They will come to play in 2017.
Their backups are some talented true freshmen that will see the field. But the best thing Brad Johnson and Davonne Bowen can do this year is change the game on special teams and learn from Williams and Moore.
Middle backer: T.J.Brunson
Backup: Damani Staley
As true freshman Brunson saw a lot of action in special teams, but this year he slotted to make an impact as a starting middle linebacker. If he can follow the leadership of his fellow starting linebackers Moore and Williams he will be fine.
His backup Damani Staley might see some playing time as well as a true freshman. Yes, he is the son of former Philadelphia Eagles and South Carolina Gamecock Duce Staley.
Defensive Backs
Starting Cornerbacks: Chris Lammons, Jamarcus King
Backups: Rashad Fenton, Jamyest Williams
Just like the defensive line, the corners and safeties need to play better and be more consistent. I think they can do that by mixing up the cornerback positions a little bit. Lammons usually plays the nickel, but I think Jamyest Williams might be able to take over that position this year and move Lammons to one of the corners. Lammons has the best ball skills out of the corners and true freshman Williams and Fenton can fight for the nickel/backup corner position.
Jamarcus King is a transfer student that played decent but the Gamecock fans expected a lot more from him. Let’s not beat around the bush, his lasting moment from the 2016 season was Mike Williams carrying him into the end zone. He can and has to play better in 2017.
Starting Safeties: D.J. Smith, Steven Montac
Backup: Jaylin Dickerson, Javon Charleston
D.J. Smith is the leading tackler from a year ago for the Gamecocks. He tallied 80 tackles and finished in the top five in the SEC in solo tackles (62). His fellow starting safety Steven Montac tallied 39 tackles. 119 tackles between these two is the most by any returning unit.
That is great for those two, personally, but for the team it says that players are getting into the back end of the defense too easily. That’s not good for the team. These two are hard-hitting safeties and if freshman Jamyest Williams does play the nickel, they will need to be able to play the ball in the air.
Their backups Jaylin Dickerson and Javon Charleston will be better suited to help out special teams and play if needed.
Pass catchers
Wide receivers
Starting Wide Receivers: Deebo Samuel, Bryan Edwards, OrTre Smith
Backups: Terry Googer, Randrecous Davis
The wide receiver position in Columbia is loaded with promise, proven talent and a lot of depth. There are six or seven receivers that could see a bunch of snaps in this new fast pace offense in South Carolina.
The receiver position is led by Deebo Samuel. In 2016, Samuel had 783 receiving yards and seven total touchdowns. Nagging injuries are the only thing that can stop this man. 6-foot-3 Bryan Edwards also added over 700 yards receiving, but many people see him reaching even higher numbers this year. Even though, OrTre Smith is a true freshman, he is big (6-foo-4) receiver that high points the ball and brings it down and take it to the house. This kind of receiver is exactly what a quarterback like Mr. Jake Bentley wants.
They really can’t go wrong with who they start. Terry Googer could easily start and the same can be said about Randrecous Davis.
Tight end
Starting Tight End: Hayden Hurst/ K.C. Crosby
Backup: Jacob August
South Carolina returns Hayden Hurst. He finished the 2016 season with 48 catches, (South Carolina tight end record) 616 yards (South Carolina TE record) and one touchdown. The other tight end is K.C. Crosby, who plays the H-back position. He finished with 23 catches, 217 yards and four touchdowns. His four receiving touchdowns tied for the most on the team in 2016.
In 2016, their backup Jacob August saw the field 13 times and has one start under his belt.
Offensive Backfield
Running Backs
Starting Running Back: Rico Dowdle
Backups: A.J. Turner, Ty’Son Williams
Rico Dowdle was part of the true freshman tandem backfield the Gamecocks had in 2016. Dowdle averaged 5.7 yards per carry on 133 carries with six rushing touchdowns. His rushing yards and rushing touchdowns were both in the top ten of the FBS for freshmen.
Last year, A.J. Turner had a good redshirt freshman campaign. He rushed for just under 500 yards and had four total touchdowns. Even though Dowdle is definitely the starter, he will have to split reps with Turner and the North Carolina transfer Ty’Son Williams. Muschamp can’t go wrong with who starts.
Quarterback
Starting Quarterback: Jake Bentley
Backup: Michael Scarnecchia
Muschamp has one of the best young quarterbacks in the nation with Jake Bentley. Last year, he took over the team and made them so much better. Jake Bentley threw for 1400 yards, nine touchdowns, and four interceptions. In SEC play, he is 2-1, with a win over ranked Tennessee, and he completes 69% of his passes and has an average passer rating of 153.
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Backup Michael Scarnecchia will finally get his chance to be the number two quarterback and could be a valued asset to Bentley. It’s Bentley’s show to run, but having a quality backup can be a lifesaver in the physical SEC.