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South Carolina Football: Time to get excited about the Shane Beamer era

By Shane Lunnen

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 26: The South Carolina Gamecocks take the field for their football game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Williams-Brice Stadium on September 26, 2020 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 26: The South Carolina Gamecocks take the field for their football game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Williams-Brice Stadium on September 26, 2020 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
(Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

The rushing attack will be key to success

The offense was not very good a year ago. The Gamecocks ranked just inside the top 100 in the country in points per game (23.5) and total yards per game (355). They will need to improve those numbers this season and it starts with the ground game.

Junior running back Kevin Harris returns and is one of the top backs in the nation. Last season he rushed for 1138 yards with 15 touchdowns. Along with four returning starters along the offensive line, running the ball should be the Gamecocks’ top strength. Spelling Harris will be MarShawn Lloyd, returning from injury.

Quarterback Luke Doty saw significant playing time at the end of the year, starting the final two games. He saw limited success, throwing for 405 yards with two touchdowns to three interceptions. Doty is the presumed starter but Gamecock fans were encouraged by transfer Jason Brown in this year’s spring game. In his one season as a starter at FCS St. Francis (Pa.), Brown threw for over 3,000 yards and 28 touchdowns. However, this was the 2019 season since St. Francis did not play last season due to the pandemic.

The receivers are a huge question mark. Shi Smith is now a Carolina Panther and not a single returning receiver had more than 11 catches a year ago. The leading catcher after Smith is returning tight end Nick Muse who will need to play an even bigger role this season. Perhaps Brown’s teammate at St. Francis, EJ Jenkins, will emerge along with Georgia Tech transfer Ahmarean Brown.