2019 South Carolina Season Preview

SEC East | Columbia, South Carolina | Williams-Brice Stadium (80,250) | 2018: 7-6 (4-4) 

by Christopher Paschal 

This preview is a little different because I am a South Carolina fan. It’s easy to remain impartial when previewing Auburn because as much as I love my Auburn friends, I don’t care about Auburn. That being said, I also try and call it as I see it. South Carolina isn’t beating Alabama. South Carolina isn’t beating Clemson. Tavien Feaster isn’t rushing for a thousand yards. Jake Bentley isn’t winning the Heisman Trophy. But things aren’t nearly as bad as most pundits are making it out to be. This is the best team South Carolina has had under Will Muschamp. Let’s breakdown what I think that looks like. 

Offense

Bryan McClendon had some growing pains last season in his first season as the Gamecocks’ Offensive Coordinator. But he also had some great moments, as well. Contrary to popular belief, that was to be expected from a man that had never before called plays in the SEC. This year, South Carolina’s offense needs to take the next step. The 2017 Gamecock Offense was boring, predictable, but rather consistent. The 2018 Gamecock Offense was at times flashy, explosive, and dynamic, but very inconsistent. A lot of that comes down to the players on the field, but I expect McClendon to call a better, more consistent offense in 2019. 

Quarterback

The SEC is a line of scrimmage league. If you want to win football games in the SEC, you have to have some studs on the offensive and defensive lines. That being said, Jake Bentley (6-4, 220) holds the keys to success for this 2019 South Carolina team. To accurately and fairly set expectations for Jake Bentley in 2019, we have to understand what he is and what he is not. Jake Bentley is not a bad quarterback. He’s not the worst quarterback in the SEC. He’s also not a first round draft pick in next year’s NFL Draft. Jake Bentley is a good quarterback that makes questionable decisions. That’s what he is. Bentley can be inconsistent from week-to-week, game-to-game, and sometimes even play-to-play. When Jake is firing on all cylinders and playing his best football, he has the capability to throw for over 500 yards on the Clemson Tigers. When Bentley is playing like a chicken with his head cut off, he is capable of throwing three interceptions against Kentucky. 

Bentley also hasn’t had the luxury of being coupled with a good rushing attack. It’s tough to pass the football when the opposing defense can stop the run without having to put extra defenders in the box. When defenses can stop the run with six, sometimes even five, players in the box, that means there are more defenders in pass defense. That makes it difficult. I think Jake Bentley’s stats in 2019 will look much like his stats in 2018. The number that may change (and needs to change if South Carolina has a shot at competing in the East) are his interceptions. He threw 14 last season. If can keep that number under 10, and in the single digits, South Carolina’s offense will have a good 2019. 

The future looks bright at quarterback. Redshirt freshman, Dakereon Joyner (6-1, 205), is an exceptional athlete who has the confidence needed to compete in the SEC. He is pushed for the number two spot by freshman Ryan Hilinski (6-3, 230) who was considered by many recruiting analysts last season to be the best high school quarterback prospect in the country. Hilinski has the best arm on the team. We will see how that translates to college. 

Running Back

If Jake Bentley holds the keys to success, then the running backs hold the flashlight needed to find the lock. (I promise that’s the end of this analogy.) This position group looks a lot different this August than it did last August. First, the addition of Thomas Brown at running backs coach. Brown was a significant hire for this position group. Before coming to South Carolina, Brown coached at Wisconsin, Georgia, and Miami. He coached Melvin Gordan, Sony Michel, and Nick Chubb, and has helped orchestrate some historic and dynamic rushing attacks.

Brown’s addition alone should have given this underperforming position group a shot in the arm, but news also came out in July that former Clemson running back, Tavien Feaster (5-11, 220) would be transferring to South Carolina as a graduate transfer, therefore being immediately eligible this season. Feaster has first-class speed and excellent receiving skills out of the backfield. When you watch him play at Clemson, it is clear that this guy hits the hole at a different speed than most running backs. That’s what South Carolina needed. Muschamp has preached throughout the offseason that South Carolina needed a back that could make a defender miss at the line of scrimmage. Feaster has the skills needed to make that defender miss. 

Where Feaster helps this offense the most may actually be in the passing attack. While the wide receivers are talented, this offense does need a dynamic pass catcher that can help fill the role that Deebo Samuel had last season. In many ways, Feaster is that player. He has great hands for a running back and can run routes that make him a nightmare to defend out of the backfield. Coupled with Feaster are returning seniors Rico Dowdle (6-0, 210), who has been injured throughout his playing career, and Mon Denson (5-10, 210) who has struggled to get consistent snaps at running back. With Feaster in the backfield, both Dowdle and Denson can stay fresh and make the most of their carries when called upon. This position group needs to have a much better season this year, and I think it will. Look for South Carolina to have its best rushing attack since 2013. 

Wide Receiver

This group is one of the most talented in the country. This offense is also going to miss Deebo Samuel. Both of those statements can be true simultaneously, despite what many Gamecock fans and pundits have said. Deebo Samuel was not only the most dynamic athlete on South Carolina’s roster last season, but he was also the most dependable. Whenever South Carolina needed a big play, or whenever Jake Bentley was in trouble, Deebo was the one that bailed the Gamecocks out. That is tough to replace, because it wasn’t just his athleticism and ball skills that made him that kind of player. It’s one of those “it factors”. You either have it or you don’t.

Just because Bryan Edwards (6-3, 215) is an All-SEC talent, and just because Tavien Feaster has first-class speed, and just because Shi Smith (5-10, 185) has excellent hands, doesn’t necessarily mean those guys can be that clutch, dependable receiver that bails the team out in big moments. 

That’s the question mark. Talent is not a question mark. Bryan Edwards, Shi Smith, and OrTre Smith (6-4, 225) are one of the best receiving trios in the country. They are fast and physical. Shi Smith is one of the best receivers in the country at the inside fade route. Bryan Edwards is poised to break numerous receiving records at South Carolina. OrTre Smith has the size and athleticism that makes him one of the best targets in the SEC.

Behind those three there is a lot of talented, unproven depth – including Josh Vann (5-10, 190), Randrecous Davis (5-10, 190) and former quarterback Jay Urich (6-5, 205) all of whom have flashed through the Spring and this August. Keep your eyes on Xavier Legette (6-3, 190). Legette was a lightly recruited prospect out of a sparsely populated county in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina.  Early returns from August training camp have been unreal for Legette. He has the potential to catch a lot of footballs this year.  

Offensive Line

This may be one of the more underrated units in the SEC. South Carolina has continued to improve on the offensive line under the coaching of Eric Wolford. At tackle, South Carolina has two studs in Dylan Wonnum (6-5, 310) and Sadarius Hutcherson (6-4, 310). Wonnum played his best football last season, as a true freshman, against Clemson. Yes, there were moments he played like a freshman, but his pass protection skills were highlighted against some of the best pass rushers in the country last season. Hutcherson is possibly the most athletic player on the roster. At over 300 pounds, Hutcherson is fast, physical, and has a great motor. Inside, things are a little less certain.

At center, South Carolina will start redshirt freshman Hank Manos (6-4, 290) who is a little undersized, but is physical (a trait he might have gained as an exceptional wrestler in high school). At guard, South Carolina will have senior Donell Stanley (6-3, 320), one of the bigger, stronger offensive lineman on the roster and Eric Douglas (6-4, 300) who Will Muschamp has praised for having a great summer in the weight room. Jovaughn Gwyn (6-2, 305) could also get some playing time at guard. Gwyn is considered one of the strongest, most athletic guys on the team.

At tight end, South Carolina got tough news that senior Kiel Pollard had a cyst on his spine, forcing him to retire from football. That leaves Kyle Markaway (6-4, 240) a big-bodied player that will most likely put his hand in the dirt often and transfer Nick Muse (6-5, 235) who may be the best pass catching tight end on the roster. The only problem is that the NCAA hasn’t ruled on his eligibility for this upcoming season. 

Defense

What could go wrong, did go wrong last season for this Gamecock Defense. The defensive stats and rankings were shocking for a Will Muschamp defense last year. There were two root causes for South Carolina’s lack of success on defense last season – injuries and lack of turnovers. In 2017, South Carolina was second behind Alabama in turnover margin. In 2018, South Carolina ranked third to last in the SEC in turnover margin. Good health and a return to an aggressive defense could do wonders for South Carolina this season. 

Defensive Line

This is the best defensive line South Carolina has had since Clowney left for the NFL. There is a lot of talent and a lot of veteran experience returning this season. It all starts with Javon Kinlaw (6-6, 300). Kinlaw, athletically and physically, is a force in the interior of this defensive line. And while he had a solid 2018 season, 2019 has to be his best yet. Injuries, double teams, and a new role handicapped Kinlaw in 2018. I don’t think those same hindrances will hold Kinlaw back in 2019. Part of that will be due to who else South Carolina has on the inside. Senior defensive tackle Kobe Smith (6-2, 300), physically, is an absolute stud. He may be the most in-shape defensive linemen on the roster, which translates well to hot, September games in Columbia. Smith will get a shot to play a lot of snaps this season. Senior Keir Thomas (6-2, 275) has played a lot snaps in his career at South Carolina. Thomas can play in the interior, as well as on the edge.

Those three seniors are accompanied by two young, blue-chip recruits. Sophomore Rick Sandidge (6-5, 295) and freshman Zacch Pickens (6-3, 300) are both All-SEC talents. Both were highly recruited out of high school and have the potential to be the guys that can dominate the game. Jabari Ellis (6-3, 270) also returns for his junior season. Ellis is much like Thomas in that he can play inside and outside. 

On the edge, South Carolina is a little thinner, but still very talented. Senior DJ Wonnum (6-5, 260) returns at BUCK, which is basically a defensive end. Wonnum returns after missing huge portions of last season due to injury. According to Muschamp, he’s playing his best football. Wonnum is the best pass rusher on this defense, and is poised for a big season. Eight or nine sacks this season would be a huge boost for this defense. Behind Wonnum is Brad Johnson (6-2, 250) who was heavily recruited out of high school. Johnson has flashed his talent, but has not been able to put it all together. As a junior, South Carolina needs Johnson to provide quality depth behind Wonnum. A name to remember is freshman Rodricus Fitten (6-2, 230) out of Atlanta. Early returns from fall camp have been positive. Fitten has the speed and flexibility needed to be a great pass rusher as the year progresses. Opposite of the BUCK position will be Aaron Sterling (6-1, 245), an undersized but hardnosed senior, and sophomore JJ Enagbare (6-4, 265) who Muschamp has labeled as one of the better edge pass rushers on the roster. 

Linebacker

This position group was a major liability for South Carolina last season. Young players were thrust into starting roles as injuries ravaged an already thin linebacking corps. This season should be better, but still the weakness of the defense. In the middle, senior TJ Brunson (6-1, 235) returns for his last season. Brunson is a tackling machine who struggled at times last season. All signs point towards him having a bounce-back, strong season this year.

After Brunson, there are a lot of talented question marks. What do I mean by that? I mean there are a lot of players in this linebacking corps that have the ability to play like SEC linebackers. They just haven’t done it yet. Sherrod Greene (6-1, 230) returns for his junior season. Greene has a lot speed, but has yet to play fast – meaning Greene was not confident last season and therefore couldn’t play at full speed. Ernest Jones (6-2, 230) has a ton of confidence and could be an underrated sophomore on this defense. Freshman Derek Boykins, Jahmar Brown, and sophomore Rosendo Louis are talented, but unproven.

One name to remember is senior Danny Fennell (6-2, 245). Physically, this is an SEC linebacker. And he has flashed throughout his career. Heading into his senior season, Muschamp said he has had his best camp. His pass rushing contributions are much needed.  

Defensive Back

I may sound like a mad man, but this may be the best position group on the team. The more camp progresses and the more I read and the more I watch, the more excited I am. At corner, South Carolina replaces two undersized cornerbacks with two physical, big cornerbacks. Jaycee Horn (6-1, 200) could finish this season as a first team All-SEC cornerback. In his second game in college, Jaycee was flying around and making the best tackles against Georgia. He only got better. This could be a massive coming out party in 2019. Opposite of Jaycee is Israel Mukuamu (6-4, 205). From what I have been told by those with inside knowledge of the program, Mukuamu is having a fantastic fall camp. He is so tall and long, that it is tough for wide receivers to even get into their routes without him redirecting them. Jaycee and Israel have quickly become the leaders of this defense. Behind Jaycee and Israel are two true freshman in Johnny Dixon (5-11, 180) and Cam Smith (6-0, 170). Both Dixon and Smith were highly-regarded prospects coming out of high school, especially Smith who was considered the fourth best cornerback in the country by 247 Sports. 

At safety, South Carolina returns senior JT Ibe (5-10, 195) who has had a strong summer and sophomore RJ Roderick (6-0, 200) who is a hard-hitting thumper. Jamyest Williams (5-8, 175) is undersized, but aggressive safety who can also play nickel. Williams struggles to cover bigger wide receivers, but might be the best defensive back in run defense. The wildcard is Jamel Cook (6-4, 200) who was a huge recruit out of high school. Cook has struggled to play with consistency, which has frustrated Muschamp to the point of calling him out in front of the media. If consistency wasn’t an issue, Cook would play a lot. He is a strong tackler who gives a lot of range to the back end of secondary. Keep an eye on freshman Shilo Sanders (6-0, 185) – son of Deion Sanders – and Jammie Robinson (5-11, 200). Both have trained at both nickel and safety. Muschamp has hinted at Robinson starting at nickel opening the season in Charlotte. 

Special Teams

Parker White at placekicker and Joseph Charlton give South Carolina two excellent specialists. The biggest question mark is who will replace Deebo Samuel at kick returner. Jamyest Williams, AJ Turner (a do-it-all player that could get snaps at running back and defensive back), Shi Smith, and Xavier Legette have all been names that have been mentioned. 

Schedule Breakdown

Aug. 31       *vs. North Carolina

Sept. 7        vs Charleston Southern  

Sept. 14       vs Alabama

Sept. 21       at Missouri

Sept. 28       vs Kentucky

Oct. 5          OFF

Oct. 12        at Georgia     

Oct. 19        vs Florida   

Oct. 26        at Tennessee        

Nov. 2         vs Vanderbilt       

Nov. 9         vs Appalachian State      

Nov. 16       at Texas A&M     

Nov. 23       OFF  

Nov. 30       vs Clemson

*Charlotte

Projected Finish: 8-4 (5-3) 

This is the toughest schedule in all of college football. If things go sideways for the Gamecocks, finishing with a losing record is a legitimate possibility. I’m not going with the worst-case scenario. This is the best team South Carolina has had since 2013. I think they play like it. The Alabama, Georgia, and Clemson games are most definitely losses.

Then there are four toss up games: Missouri, Florida, Tennessee, and Texas A&M. I am not buying the Missouri hype. I think Kelly Bryant is a fine replacement for Drew Lock, but I have serious concerns about Missouri’s defense and talent across the roster. Tennessee is quickly rebuilding, but I think their offensive line is average and their defensive line is very thin. Also, the Gamecocks catch the Vols after a stretch of Georgia, Mississippi State, and Alabama. That offensive and defensive line will not be ready for South Carolina. Then there is Florida. My darling of 2018. As optimistic and high as I was on Florida in 2018, I am just as skeptical heading into 2019. First, I am not sold on Feleipe Franks as an SEC quarterback. Second, this offensive line has major question marks. I think in Williams-Brice, South Carolina pulls off a close victory. A road trip to Texas A&M on the other hand, while I wouldn’t be shocked if South Carolina exposes a potentially weak back seven Aggie defense, is one of those games that I think may be too tough for South Carolina to pull off.

Those swing games are crucial. South Carolina has to win three of those and not lose to a salty App State team, an upstart UNC team, and finally beat a rebuilding Kentucky team. 6-7 wins may be a safer prediction, but I am confident that this team can pull off eight wins.