South Carolina Football: Gamecocks could be darkhorse contender in 2018

COLUMBIA, SC - NOVEMBER 19: Wide receiver Deebo Samuel #1 of the South Carolina Gamecocks is knocked out of bounds short of the endzone by linebacker AJ Newman #4 of the Western Carolina Catamounts on November 19, 2016 at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Todd Bennett/GettyImages) /

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(Photo by Todd Bennett/GettyImages) /

Offense

The South Carolina offense will have no shortage of firepower in 2018. The biggest name missing from the starting 11 will be tight end Hayden Hurst. He was a first round selection of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Other than Hurst’s absence, the rest of the passing attack which finished sixth through the air in the SEC returns intact. The biggest addition will be the return of Deebo Samuel. South Carolina’s big play threat and key offensive cog, Samuel caught 15 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns in three games before a broken leg ended his 2017 campaign. His reinsertion into the lineup will elevate the play of quarterback Jake Bentley immediately.

Complementing the aerial attack will be a slew of running backs. Four different backs with who had 40 or more touches last season return for South Carolina. That’s both a blessing and a curse. A.J. Turner led the way with 531 yards and three rushing touchdowns last season, but the lack of one true workhorse back or even a defined depth chart is somewhat concerning.

To this point the South Carolina offense hasn’t quite gelled. It’s been marginally effective, but the peak of its capabilities are still waiting to be grasped. If Bentley and Samuel can unlock that hidden potential the Gamecocks could quietly have one of the better offenses in the SEC.