No. 9 AP/9 Fansided South Carolina (1-0, 1-0 SEC) needed all it could muster in Thursday’s 17-13, season opening defeat of Vanderbilt (0-1, 0-1) including a controversial no-call on the Commodores’ last gasp effort.
The Vanderbilt defense picked up where it left off a season ago, but just like in 2011, South Carolina’s defense was better. The Gamecocks stifled Jordan Rodgers and Vandy, which appeared on the cusp of delivering the kill shot several times in the third quarter only to stall.
While those prone to conclusion jumping in Week 1 contests will use the Gamecocks’ narrow escape from Nashville as evidence that Steve Spurrier’s team does not deserve its top 10 billing, something much more important than the final score can be gleaned. Marcus Lattimore is back.
South Carolina’s offense was thoroughly anemic, quarterback Connor Shaw unable to establish a rhythm even before missing a few series. But Lattimore performed at the level he was regularly meeting before suffering a knee injury early last season, racking up 108 yards on a Commodore defense that held teams to 130 a season ago. Lattimore also scored two touchdowns.
His showing has to be the No. 1 takeaway from South Carolina Thursday night. He showed no field rust, rushing with the same Juggernaut-style, straightforward force that made him America’s top freshman in 2010. As he continues to produce, the rest of the Gamecock offense should come together. Remember that the receiving corps lost top target Alshon Jeffrey, so Shaw must establish rhythm with a new No. 1. He’ll get ample opportunity in the next two games against East Carolina and UAB defenses that were among the nation’s most porous last season, before the Gamecocks return to SEC play against newcomer Missouri.
James Franklin surely would have loved opening his second season with an upset of the nation’s ninth ranked team, and the Commodores are likely past the level of reveling in moral victories. Still, there is much positive Vanderbilt can build off of in this loss. Rare is the match-up when the ‘Dore defense will see a rusher the caliber of Lattimore, even in the talent rich SEC. Rodgers and Jordan Matthews also showed flashes of being a dangerous pass-catch combination. VU looks like a potential player in the SEC East.