Front Porch FootballSouth Carolina 2021 Season Preview
by Max McDougald
There is something different about Shane Beamer than previous head coaches at South Carolina. For starters, Beamer has zero head coaching experience. Although he has an impressive resume, coaching almost every position possible, and spent his time at Oklahoma as an associate head coach, Beamer enters 2021 as an official head coach for the first time. But what he lacks in experience, he makes up for it with passion and energy. Beamer has already ignited a fire under Gamecock fans through his speeches, recruiting, and transparency. We were high on Beamer during the hiring process and are even more enthusiastic going into the season. Chris Paschal breaks down what makes Shane Beamer different from other coaches here.
Beamer has brought in an impressive coaching staff, starting with Marcus Satterfield as offensive coordinator and Clayton White as defensive coordinator. Both have a combined 38 years of coaching experience and know the South well when it comes to recruiting. While this staff has already made tremendous strides in recruiting and development, they are still reeling from a team that went 2-8 last year. Yes, there should be visible progress on the field (and to some extent, on the scoreboard), but South Carolina is still a ways off from competing at the level Beamer and Gamecock fans expect.
South Carolina Offense
This Carolina offense will be a blend of concepts from Lincoln Riley and Joe Brady, combined with other approaches picked up throughout Shane Beamer’s and Marcus Satterfield’s coaching journeys. That sounds great, but taking the “good parts” of several offenses only works if you have a coherent and authentic offensive identity. What that looks like in 2021 should be a steady diet of handing the ball off to one of the better backfields in the SEC, finding tight ends over the middle, and putting pressure on opposing defenses with the vertical passing game. Steve Spurrier called the latter his Mills Concept, a passing scheme that stretched the field and kept defenses on their heels. Carolina hasn’t had that the past couple of seasons, and if they can’t find a deep ball threat this season, it will be another long year offensively.
Departed Starters
Shi Smith – WR – NFL
Sadarius Hutcherson – OG – NFL
Quarterback
The quarterback position has been a revolving door for the Gamecocks since 2018, with four different starting quarterbacks over three seasons – Jake Bentley, Ryan Hilinski, Collin Hill, and Luke Doty. This year, it looks like there is a clear-cut starter heading into the 2021 season, and barring an emergency, that should end the “revolving door” Gamecock fans have become accustomed to. Sophomore Luke Doty (6-1, 210) finished 2020 as the starting quarterback and continued to hold the title for the entire off-season. After suffering a foot sprain during practice on August 14th, it is unclear if Doty will recover in time for the opener against Eastern Illinois on September 4th, but once he is healthy, we can expect him to reclaim his role as starter. Last year, Doty saw playing time in 8 games (starting in the final 2) and showed flashes of his dual-threat ability, finishing the season 43-for-71 (60.6%) for 405 yards, 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions, in addition to 91 yards on the ground. Although Doty was raw as a true freshman, his gunslinger mentality and quickness out of the pocket brought a level of excitement Gamecock fans hadn’t felt since Connor Shaw’s days at QB.
If Doty does not return in time for game 1, expect Satterfield to turn to either FCS transfer Jason Brown (6-4, 229) or true freshman Colten Gauthier (6-3, 217). Currently, Brown is the favorite to start week 1. In his last full season at Saint Francis University, Brown led the Northeast Conference in passing yards (3,084) and passing touchdowns (28). He is known for his live arm and for being smart with the football. Although he has improved his mobility after dropping some weight in the offseason, Brown is definitely still a pass-first quarterback.
Gauither is also a pass-first quarterback but is much more of a threat outside the pocket. In his last full high school season, Gauthier finished with a QB Rating of 102.3 (143-for-252, 2401 yards, 20 passing touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 234 rushing yards, and 10 rushing touchdowns). Gauthier enrolled early as a true freshman and has already made a positive impression with his new coaches, allowing him to quickly move up the roster. With Doty being questionable for the first week, Satterfield could very likely split time between Brown and Gauthier against Eastern Illinois.
Besides Gauthier, Zeb Noland (6-2, 224) and Connor Jordan (6-4, 208) are next on the depth chart. Noland is an incredible story, recently being “promoted” to the team after starting his time on campus this year as a new graduate assistant. The former Iowa State and North Dakota State quarterback could play his way into a significant role if he can pick up the offense quickly. All in all, though, this is Luke Doty’s job to lose. Once he is healthy, you will see him leading this Gamecock offense; the dynamism he brings to the offense can’t be matched.
Running Back
This is the best position group on the offense, and it’s not even close. First, they return last year’s SEC-leading rusher in junior Kevin Harris (5-10, 220), who carried the ball 185 times for 1,138 yards, and 15 touchdowns, as well as making 21 receptions for another 159 yards and another touchdown. Harris made a name for himself in 2020 as one of the few bright spots in a season full of disappointments. He is a power back, with a tendency to leave defenders lying on the ground, questioning how much they love the game of football. But he combines power with enough speed to enable him to take it to the house in the open field. Harris is an NFL-caliber running back, and our friend Harris Oates with DraftID has him in his Top 25 NFL Prospects from the SEC.
Next to Harris will be redshirt freshman Marshawn Lloyd (5-9, 215). Lloyd was expected to make an immediate impact last year, but a torn ACL in the preseason left him sidelined for all of 2020. Lloyd is back to full strength and is expected to live up to his five-star hype. While he is known for his excellent vision in the backfield and his explosiveness through the hole, Lloyd should also be incorporated into the passing game more than Harris. Together, they pack a mean one-two punch against any defense.
Florida State transfer ZaQuandre White (6-1, 215) will join the two as a change-of-pace back. During his tenure at South Carolina, White has had difficulty with ball security, but if he can improve in that area (and Gamecock fans have reason for optimism, with White being named the most improved offensive player during spring practice), his blend of speed and elusiveness gives the Gamecocks another big-play threat behind Harris and Lloyd. If White continues to struggle holding onto the ball, though, look for redshirt freshman Rashad Amos (6-2, 224) to receive snaps after a strong 2021 spring. True freshman Juju McDowell (5-9, 177) is a talented athlete who could find himself incorporated into the passing game as well.
Wide Receiver
Over the past five years, South Carolina has enjoyed elite wide receiver talent, with playmakers like Pharoh Cooper, Deebo Samuel, Bryan Edwards, and Shi Smith providing highlights game after game. Those big names are gone, and while there is talent at wideout, there are also a lot of unknowns. Beamer said as much in his opening statement during SEC Media Days: “Wide receiver position, a lot has been made of the wide receiver position. It’s deep, but it’s very unproven, and those guys certainly are motivated to show what they can do. We’ve got a lot of guys at that position. We need some guys to step up as well, and they’re off to a great start.”
Satterfield does not have the luxury of using big-name wide receivers as he did at the Carolina Panthers, but if he can dial up passing routes to get his guys open, there are athletes on this roster who can make plays in the air. Although it is too soon to officially name any receivers as definite first-string, it should start with Josh Vann (5-10, 190), Dakereon Joyner (6-1, 207), and Jalen Brooks (6-2, 202).
All three have benefited from the coaching change, but none more than Vann, who was a highly rated recruit but has struggled to play up to his potential thus far. In his 8 game appearances last year, Vann made 8 receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown. Under Beamer, Vann has reportedly transformed into a completely different player, with the confidence and energy to make big plays. Meanwhile, Joyner is the ultimate team player. Originally recruited at quarterback and promised to play at the position, Joyner was snubbed again and again by the Muschamp staff. When he finally moved to wide receiver, he was once again promised playing time but hardly saw the field; when he did, he was put in impossible scenarios. However, Joyner still found a way to make plays, with 6 yards and a touchdown on only two rushing attempts, along with pulling in 7 receptions for 55 yards and another touchdown. Joyner is one of the better athletes on this roster, and with experience at wide receiver and a fresh start with the coaching staff, expect him to make plays. Brooks returns for his final year of eligibility and should finish his collegiate career strong, after having to adjust not only to the SEC, but to the Division I level last year. After transferring from D-II Wingate, Brooks did not gain eligibility until halfway through 2020. His size and physicality should be put to use early and often this year.
Other names in rotation are Ahmarean Brown (5-9, 165), Ortre Smith (6-4, 227), and Xavier Legette (6-1, 217). Both Legette and Smith are returning from injury, and Brown appears to still be trying to catch up to SEC speed, after transferring from Georgia Tech. Sophomores Rico Powers (6-2, 187) and Ger-Cari Caldwell (6-5, 200) also provide size and desired matchups in red zone situations.
Tight End
In his opening statement during SEC Media Days, Beamer let it be known that the tight end position will be utilized in his offense, “[The] tight end position, something that’s near and dear to me, something I’ve coached the last five years. In my career, we’re always going to utilize the tight end. Every donor or booster club event that I go to, that’s the one question I get asked, are we going to throw the tight end? We are going to throw to the tight end. We want the premier tight ends in America, and that’s the way we’re recruiting now as well, to go get those guys as well… We’ve utilized those guys in the past when I’ve been at Oklahoma, and we’ll continue to.”
This is exciting news for senior Nick Muse (6-5, 249), who returns as the premier tight and leading receiver from 2020, with 30 receptions for 425 yards and 1 touchdown. He has soft hands in the receiving game and is a big target downfield. With Beamer declaring his desire to use his tight ends heavily in the passing game, look for Muse to conclude on a high note and end up on an NFL roster. Besides Muse is another Saint Francis transfer (in addition to QB Jason Brown), EJ Jenkins (6-7, 243). His massive frame, physicality, and ability to highpoint balls makes him ideal in the red zone. Jenkins can be placed at either tight end or on the outside at wide receiver to create coverage mismatches.
Jaheim Bell (6-3, 230) is another tight end who should receive significant playing time and is athletic enough to play at wide receiver, or even running back in some scenarios. His athleticism was constantly mentioned throughout the offseason, and coaches will find creative ways to get the ball into his hands. Finally, Keveon Mullins (6-3, 242), a converted wide receiver, will attempt to find a way into this talented group after suffering an injury early in the offseason. All four have playmaking ability, and their versatility will be relied upon as the season unfolds. Don’t be surprised if there are multiple tight ends on the field at a time, and the leading receiver comes from one of these four.
Offensive Line
In 2020, this Gamecock offensive line was strong in the run game and floundered in the passing game. That makes the goals for 2021 clear: maintain, or even improve, consistency in run blocking and get much better in pass protection. New offensive line coach Greg Adkins will try to help this veteran group take the next step and be a more complete group. As offensive line coach at Marshall, Adkins led the Thundering Herd’s o-line to a top-50 ranking nationally in rushing offense and a top-15 ranking nationally in sacks allowed per game. In his first year at South Carolina, Adkins returns basically a full depth chart, with only one starter (Sadarious Hutcherson) having to be replaced due to graduation. Hutcherson was the heartbeat and the leader of this offensive line, and his absence should not be understated, but there is a strong foundation for the Gamecocks heading into this season.
It all starts at the center with Eric Douglas (6-4, 315). Douglas is a veteran player from Charlotte who started all 10 games in 2020 and has taken the role as leader of the offensive line from the aforementioned Hutcherson. The guard spots will be manned by Jaylen Nichols (6-5, 325) and another Charlotte native, Jovaughn Gwyn (6-2, 300). Nichols has shifted inside from tackle, and the returns from camp have been positive. Gwyn, meanwhile, has made 21 consecutive starts at guard. He’s a bit undersized but is one of the strongest players on the team, with great pad level when run blocking. One name to keep an eye on is Vinny Murphy (6-2, 305). Murphy was a mildly recruited center from Florida, but after a couple of seasons in an SEC weight room, he could contribute at any of the interior offensive line positions.
The tackle positions will be manned by seniors Dylan Wonnum (6-5, 305) and Jazston Turnetine (6-7, 340). Both young men are extremely talented and have shown flashes during their time on campus. Wonnum, from Tucker, Georgia, was a 247 Sports Freshman All-American in 2018 but has battled injuries in both his sophomore and junior seasons. Turnetine, a fellow Georgia native, was a JUCO transfer who has been working to get his body in shape during his first couple years on campus.
The starters for the Gamecocks are good, but what Carolina needs are solid backups if this unit is to be great. Coach Adkins mentioned earlier in August that he likes to have eight to ten offensive linemen he can trust to play at a high level. He said right now he only had five or six. If Carolina is to take the next step at offensive line, more guys need to step up.
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South Carolina Defense
One of the frustrating aspects of Will Muschamp’s tenure was how his defenses never lived up to their potential, especially since he was known for his expertise on that side of the ball. This was especially frustrating given the number of individuals that he and former defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson recruited, developed, and coached who are now playing in the NFL. Beamer brought in Clayton White in hopes of changing that narrative. White, who will implement a base 4-2-5 defensive scheme, has inherited experienced talent in the trenches but will need to answer several question marks at linebacker and (especially) in the secondary. White’s defense has received high praise over the course of fall camp, so fans are eager to see if he can bring back the spirit of the “Goon Squad” defense.
Departed Contributors
Ernest Jones – LB – NFL
Keir Thomas – DE – Transfer (Florida State)
Jaycee Horn – CB – NFL
Israel Mukuamu – CB – NFL
Shilo Sanders – CB – Transfer (Jackson State)
Jammie Robinson – DB – Transfer (Florida State)
John Dixon – DB – Transfer (Penn State)
Defensive Line
Carolina’s defensive line is the headliner, not only on this side of the ball, but possibly within this entire roster. The Gamecocks have serious talent throughout the line of scrimmage, and proven depth at key spots. It starts with defensive end Kingsley “JJ” Enagbare (6-4, 265). If you were to google “elite, SEC-level pass rusher,” Enagbare’s picture should come up. (If it doesn’t, the algorithms on your computer are messed up.) Enagbare has started to be mentioned in early mock drafts as a potential first round pick in next year’s NFL Draft.
Opposite Enagbare is a rotation of excellent pass rushers in their own right. The veteran of the group is Aaron Sterling (6-2, 250). When most analysts or coaches talk about SEC edge defenders, they are talking about guys like Enagbare: long, tall, lean. Despite measuring over six feet tall, Sterling is considered a shorter defensive end or edge defender. But what he lacks in height he makes up for in pad level. Throughout these previews, a common theme has been leverage and the importance of a player getting his hips below the guy he is going against. Sterling has that knack at times. Also in the mix on the edge is Georgia State transfer Jordan Strachan (6-5, 250). Strachan led the nation in sacks last season with 10.5. The former defensive back has grown multiple inches and has put on close to one hundred pounds since high school.
When looking for a breakout player, the name to keep your eye out for is sophomore Jordan Burch (6-6, 268). A Columbia native, Burch is a former five-star prospect who played a considerable number of snaps last season as a true freshman. With a full offseason and another year of weight training, Burch should have a big sophomore campaign. Hot Rod Fitten and Gilber Edmond both have the talent to crack the rotation as well.
On the interior, the Gamecocks have some big bodies. Zacch Pickens (6-4, 305) will be the one everybody talks about. After a productive offseason, the former five-star recruit at defensive end is now playing inside and is primed for a big year. Pickens, who played his high school ball at my alma mater, TL Hanna in Anderson, SC, is big and athletic and has great instincts. What new defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey needs to get out of Pickens is a fire and motor that matches his ability. Beside Pickens, Carolina will look to Jabari Ellis (6-3, 278), a passionate senior who is a leader of this defensive line. Additionally, sophomore Tonka Hemingway (6-3, 300) is expected to have a big year in 2021, after playing a lot of snaps at defensive end as a freshman in 2020. Hemingway could be the breakout player of the interior linemen and make a name for himself in the SEC. The Horry County, SC product has a great motor, SEC-level athleticism, and all the returns out of camp so far have been positive.
Columbia native Alex Huntley (6-4, 305) will be joining these guys in the interior. Huntley is a smart, athletic player who has put himself in position to play some significant snaps this fall. Recent footage of Huntley blowing up a play on the goalline and forcing a fumble went mico-viral amongst Gamecock Twitter. During fall camp, veteran tackle Rick Sandidge (6-5, 302) suffered a “lower body” injury that, according to Coach Beamer, is not season-ending, but the timetable for his return is still unknown. If he returns quickly, Sandidge will be a major player for this group and could crack the starting lineup. Other players who could see time rotating inside are Keem Green (a SC native who transferred in from Nebraska), MJ Webb, Devontae Davis, and freshmen Nick Barrett and TJ Sanders.
As a whole, this defensive line has the talent to be a big-time group in the SEC. The depth is there, but avoiding injury to key players will be very important. Do not be surprised if a player from this Gamecocks defensive line leads the SEC in sacks.
Linebacker
South Carolina lost last year’s best linebacker, Ernest Jones, to the NFL. He finished 2020 as the team’s leading tackler with 86 (5 for loss), along with 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery. His departure will be tough to replace with one player, but it certainly helps that Sherrod Greene (6-1, 230) returns for his fifth year. After missing almost all of last season with a fractured hip suffered in week one against Tennessee, Greene brings much-needed SEC experience (25 starts in 36 game appearances), and a knack for meeting opponents in the backfield. Although he’s played primarily at the strong side position in a traditional 3-linebacker structure, he is strong and quick enough to translate into a 2-man group. The Rocky Mount, NC native is the only guarantee.
Fifth-year senior Damani Staley (6-1, 240) should see his fair share of playing time, after finishing third in total tackles last season (50 tackles, 0.5 for loss, and 1 pass defended). Staley has increased in production and playing time every year he’s been on campus, and he finds a way to fly to the football no matter where it ends up. The one name circled on this roster is Brad Johnson (6-3, 240), who enters his second season at linebacker after moving from defensive end. He seems to have fully embraced his new role and can fly off the edge. In short-yardage scenarios, look for Johnson to replace the nickelback and for South Carolina to look more like a traditional 4-3 defense.
Rosendo Louis, Jr. (6-2, 240) will try to finally crack the starting lineup after missing last year to a preseason quad injury. Louis has yet to live up to his potential as an inside linebacker, but when he is at his best, he can deliver heavy blows. Sophomore Mohamed Kaba (6-2, 235) was given a baptism by fire as a true freshman last year, since he wasn’t truly ready for a starting role but had to start three games out of necessity. A member of the SEC All-Freshman team last year, he showed great potential and could develop into a future star on the weak side.
Deebo Williams , Kolbe Fields, and Bam Martin-Scott are the future for South Carolina’s linebackers, and all three have received high praise from the coaching staff. Look for their playing time to increase later in the season as their confidence grows.
Secondary
This secondary was hit hard last year. Not only did they lose their top two cornerbacks to the NFL (Jaycee Horn and Israel Mukuamu), they also lost three other key defensive backs to the transfer portal (Shilo Sanders, Jammie Robinson, and John Dixon). Beamer and his staff quickly went to work on the recruiting trail and transfer portal, adding five more defensive backs to the roster between spring and fall practices. Unfortunately, that will probably not be enough to prevent 2021 from being a rebuilding year in the secondary. Early in the season, fans should expect to see a lot of different players on the field, as White and defensive backs coach Torrian Gray try to identify the best starting five.
The most experienced cornerback is redshirt sophomore Cam Smith (6-1, 187), but that’s not saying much. Smith played in 8 games last year (including 3 starts), recording 16 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 2 broken-up passes. He continues to rehab a minor injury and should be back for opening weekend. When healthy, Smith is a smooth defender with excellent hip rotation and should provide much-needed consistency. But last year he benefited from not being the top corner on the team, so only time will tell if he has enough talent to lock down some of the best wide receivers in the country. Opposite Smith could be Georgia Military College transfer Marcellus Dial (6-0, 190), who ranked as the number 7 JUCO corner after limited playing opportunities due to COVID. Coaches are high on Dial and he should receive plenty of snaps in his last three years of eligibility.
Behind Smith and Dial will be redshirt junior Darius Rush (6-2, 195) and sophomore Dominick Hill ( 6-2, 200). Rush, a wide receiver converted to cornerback, has seen most of his playing time on special teams, so he benefits from the mass exodus of 2020. Coaches are high on his length and speed, but he will need to show improvement in his mechanics to make any sort of impact. Hill played at both corner and safety as a freshman, and his versatility will allow him to see the field more often, especially in nickel and dime packages. Other names who could break the starting rotation are redshirt freshman Joey Hunter (6-1, 200), sophomore Dominick Hill (6-2, 200), junior Isaiah Norris (6-0, 170) and true freshman LaDareyan Craig (6-1, 172).
RJ Roderick (6-0, 207) returns for his senior year after opting out for the final four games following the firing of Muschamp. Although there was speculation that Roderick would transfer, he has embraced the new coaching staff and stepped into a leadership role for this defense. In his six games last season, Roderick totaled 23 tackles (1 for loss), and 1 broken-up pass. Look for his stats to improve exponentially in 2021. Next to Roderick is expected to either be redshirt junior Jaylin Dickerson (6-1, 197) or sixth-year senior Jaylan Foster (5-10, 195). Dickerson has struggled to remain healthy, suffering season ending injuries in 2017 and 2019, but when he is at one hundred percent, he can be quite effective in pass coverage. Foster returns for his final season after finishing fourth on the team in total tackles (43), despite making only 8 game appearances. Jahmar Brown (6-1, 208) and Tyrese Ross (6-0, 200) will also scrap for playing time once they return to full capacity from minor injuries.
White officially introduces a nickel position as the fifth defensive back in his scheme, and stepping in should be a pair of transfers. Graduate transfer Carlin Platel (6-1, 205) transferred from Assumption University, a DII school in Worchester, MA, and despite missing an entire year of football in 2020 (Assumption did not play due to COVID), Platel has made an easy transition to Division I and the South Carolina heat. Redshirt sophomore David Spaulding (6-1, 195) could also see meaningful playing time at nickel, after spending most of his time as a cornerback at his previous school, Georgia Southern.
Special Teams
Experience and lack of turnover within the special teams is critical in the first season for Beamer and new special teams coordinator Pete Lembo. After converting 82% of his field goal attempts in 2019, kicker Parker White (6-5, 205) took a little bit of a step backward in 2020, connecting on 11-of-19 of his field goal attempts last year, including 11-of-15 within 50 yards. A reliable kicker during most of his prior four seasons at South Carolina, White should return to his 2019 form. The Gamecock punter will be Kai Kroger (6-4, 195), who started as a freshman in 2020 but was inconsistent at times. After a full offseason, he is expected to be much more consistent and become a weapon for the Gamecocks. The departure of Shi Smith means the Gamecocks will have new faces at punt and kickoff return. Dakereon Joyner, Jalen Brooks, and Juju McDowell are the favorites to factor into the return game at both spots. The hope is to have a top guy at the end of fall camp, but that could extend into the first few games of the season.
Impact Players
- Luke Doty – QB – Doty is the leader of this team and QB1 when healthy. His dual-threat ability will create problems for opposing defenses.
- Marshawn Lloyd – RB – Yes, Kevin Harris gets a majority of the headlines, and for good reason, but Lloyd should be an impact tailback when fully healthy. If Lloyd is successful and durable this season, Carolina will benefit from being able to keep its backfield fresh.
- Jalen Brooks – WR – The Gamecocks need a deep threat at receiver to keep pressure off the run game. Brooks has the potential to stretch the field, which will be important in Marcus Satterfield’s offense.
- Kingsley Enagbare/Jordan Burch – DE – These guys will cause problems for opposing offenses and will live in the backfield. This duo could be one of the top in the SEC.
- Zacch Pickens – DT – The time is now for the big defensive tackle from Anderson, SC. After transitioning from defensive end to defensive tackle, Pickens will need to be a force in the interior. A good year from Pickens in 2021 would not only benefit the Gamecocks, but also his draft stock.
- RJ Roderick – DB – Roderick has benefited from the coaching change as much as anyone on the team. A “fresh start” has ignited him and helped propel him into a leadership role in South Carolina’s inexperienced secondary.
Schedule
Sept. 4 — vs. Eastern Illinois
Sept. 11 — at East Carolina
Sept. 18 — at Georgia
Sept. 25 —vs. Kentucky
Oct. 2 — vs. Troy
Oct. 9 — at Tennessee
Oct. 16 — vs. Vanderbilt
Oct. 23 — at Texas A&M
Oct. 30 — BYE
Nov. 6 — vs. Florida
Nov. 13 — at Missouri
Nov. 20 — vs. Auburn
Nov. 27 — vs Clemson
Conclusion
In year one of the “Beamer Era,” there will be many highs and lows for the Gamecocks. There will certainly be glimpses of hope, but there will also be some growing pains, as the talent level isn’t where it needs to be to contend in the SEC. Coming off a two-win season, people are down on this program, but Beamer has injected some new life into this locker room and fanbase.
The offense has the pieces (especially at running back) to be effective at times, and Clayton White has a stout defensive line to anchor his defense. If the Gamecocks can avoid significant injuries, they have enough talent to get to bowl eligibility. If Beamer is able to pull that off, it will ignite this fanbase and establish a foundation on which he can continue to build. Six wins is doable, but not definite. The Tennessee and ECU games could be the keys to getting to that win total.
