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South Carolina Football: 3 way-too-early breakout candidates for 2022

By Jackson Caudell

HARRISONBURG, VA - May 02: Antwane Wells Jr. #81 of the James Madison Dukes catches a pass in front of Caleb Nelson #22 of the North Dakota Fighting Hawks during the first half of the NCAA Division I FCS Football Championship Quarterfinal game at Bridgeforth Stadium on May 2, 2021 in Harrisonburg, Virginia. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
HARRISONBURG, VA - May 02: Antwane Wells Jr. #81 of the James Madison Dukes catches a pass in front of Caleb Nelson #22 of the North Dakota Fighting Hawks during the first half of the NCAA Division I FCS Football Championship Quarterfinal game at Bridgeforth Stadium on May 2, 2021 in Harrisonburg, Virginia. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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South Carolina football is going to be one of the teams to watch in the SEC in 2022. Who are some breakout candidates on the Gamecocks?

Surprising fans when they are not expecting a winning season is easier than the follow-up to that season. South Carolina football has heightened expectations because of the way that they finished the season and some of the additions that have come via the transfer portal.

There is enough returning experience and incoming impact transfers that it is not out of the realm of possibility for South Carolina to finish second in the SEC East. There are guys that are going to have to be replaced in the running game and on the defense, however.

The biggest jumps for programs can often come in the second season under a coach. Because it is the second year in the system, the players know what to expect and can make strides in all areas of their game. It is going to be hard to top the seven wins that the Gamecocks had last season because they face a grueling schedule, but there is optimism they made the right hire in Beamer.

Some breakout candidates are going to have to emerge on both sides of the ball for South Carolina to be as good or better than last season. The Gamecock’s top pass rusher and tackler are both gone, as well as the top two rushers. There are spots to be filled and they will need to have big seasons from those players. There are questions on the depth chart and they will need answering

Here are the top three breakout candidates for South Carolina football in 2022.