Early look at Carolina's offense, projected starters, and depth chart for 2023
Jan. 26, 2023
The 2023 college football season is still a long way off, but it’s never too early to take an early peek at the 2023 Gamecocks squad. Here’s a look at how the Gamecocks offense might look for coach Beamer’s third season in Columbia:
QUARTERBACK
Projected starter: Spencer Rattler
Other names to watch: Luke Doty, Tanner Bailey
it is hard to overstate the importance of Spencer Rattler’s return to South Carolina. With Dowell Loggains taking over the offense from since-departed play-caller Marcus Satterfield, Loggains inherits as talented a pure passer as there is in the Southeastern Conference. Rattler took his lumps in 2022 but flashed the awe-inspiring ability that made him such a prolific high school recruit and one of the more sought-after transfers in recent memory.
During wins over No. 5 Tennessee and No. 8 Clemson, the former Oklahoma signal-caller connected on 72% of his passes for a combined 792 yards and eight touchdowns to just two interceptions. The 438 yards in the Tennessee victory were a career-high. We’ll see if there’s any attrition in the quarterback room in the wake of Rattler’s return, but expect Luke Doty to back him up, while redshirt freshman Tanner Bailey ends up as the third-string guy.
RUNNING BACK
Projected starters: Mario Anderson Jr. (Newberry)
Other names to watch: Juju McDowell, Lovasea Carroll
The Gamecocks are about as thin as it gets at running back right now. With MarShawn Lloyd off to Southern Cal and Jaheim Bell transferring to Florida State, South Carolina enters the spring down its top two rushers from a year ago. Juju McDowell has been electric in spurts, but his diminutive stature likely makes him a better option to be a third-down and/or change-of-pace tailback rather than the bell cow.
Newberry College transfer Mario Anderson is among the most intriguing pieces for next year’s team. He was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, the equivalent of the Division II Heisman, last fall after rushing 1,560 yards and 19 touchdowns. His body type is a smidge smaller than Lloyd’s at 5-foot-9, 210 pounds, but he’s got legit SEC speed and shiftiness. Don’t be surprised if he ends up getting the lion’s share of touches this fall. Georgia transfer Lovasea Carroll should also be in the mix for some touches after spending this year acclimating back to running back. (He played defensive back for the Bulldogs.) It’s also expected the Gamecocks will look to add another running back via the portal.
TIGHT END
Projected starter: Trey Knox (Arkansas)
Other names to watch: Nick Elksnis (Florida), Joshua Simon (Western Kentucky), Reid Mikeska
South Carolina’s tight end room took a hit with Bell’s and Austin Stogner’s transfers, Traevon Kenion’s retirement from football and Nate Adkins’ graduation. That said, Jody Wright’s group has added in a big way this off-season. Trey Knox was a coup for the staff after he starred at Arkansas. He’s a massive body at 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, and should be the lead guy here.
The converted receiver could improve as a blocker, but has a big-time upside. Florida transfer Nick Elksnis and Western Kentucky import Joshua Simon should both see the field, too. Elksnis battled an injury in Gainesville that limited his effectiveness, but Dan Mullen’s staff was high on his potential before Billy Napier took over as head coach last year. Simon, a Columbia-area native, caught 86 passes for 1,146 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Hilltoppers over parts of four seasons and should be a major weapon in the passing game.
RECEIVER Projected starters: Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr., Dakereon Joyner, Xavier Legette
Other names to watch: Ahmarean Brown, Landon Samson, O’Mega Blake
South Carolina loses four of its top five pass-catchers from 2022, but the Gamecocks feel like they should be in OK shape at receiver. Wells is going to be the guy in this room after he, like Rattler, announced his return to school despite flirting with the NFL. He finished second in the SEC in yards receiving a year ago and could be poised for a Biletnikoff-like campaign. Expect big things from him. Xavier Legette is one of the more interesting returners given how he played in the Gator Bowl loss to No. 21 Notre Dame. Legette finished the contest with seven catches for 78 yards both career highs and two scores.
He’s a bouncy athlete who can make wild catches, but he’s never quite put it all together. The bowl performance should be a nice springboard into this year. Ahmarean Brown has flashed in spurts but hasn’t quite become a fixture of the offense like he was projected to be coming in from Georgia Tech. The opportunity will be there in 2023.
OFFENSIVE LINE Projected starters: Tyshawn Wannamaker, Vershon Lee, Nick Gargiulo (Yale), Jakai Moore, Cason Henry
Other names to watch: Trai Jones, Grayson Mains, Sidney Fugar (Western Illinois), Markee Anderson, Trovon Baugh
South Carolina is losing a handful of big pieces from this year’s offensive line in center Eric Douglas, guard Jovaughn Gwyn and tackle Dylan Wonnum. The bodies should be there, though, to replace the production. Tyshawn Wannamaker stepped in for Wonnum at tackle in the bowl game and has plenty of game experience. Jakai Moore has also played plenty in his career and showed promise at guard after shifting inside late in the season.
Vershon Lee is likely the best player coming back along the line and should be a stalwart at guard if the Gamecocks don’t decide to move him to center. Assuming Lee stays at guard, Yale transfer Nick Gargiulo is a good bet to get the nod at center. Gargiulo started his career at tackle, but moved inside for the Bulldogs last year. He’s got the football smarts to call protections and could be a sneakily impressive transfer portal pickup for the Gamecocks.
Freshman Cason Henry received some snaps down the stretch this fall and feels like a likely candidate to slide into the other tackle spot vacated by Moore’s move. Four-star freshmen Markee Anderson and Trovon Baugh could also end up getting some run in 2023
Jan. 26, 2023
The 2023 college football season is still a long way off, but it’s never too early to take an early peek at the 2023 Gamecocks squad. Here’s a look at how the Gamecocks offense might look for coach Beamer’s third season in Columbia:
QUARTERBACK
Projected starter: Spencer Rattler
Other names to watch: Luke Doty, Tanner Bailey
it is hard to overstate the importance of Spencer Rattler’s return to South Carolina. With Dowell Loggains taking over the offense from since-departed play-caller Marcus Satterfield, Loggains inherits as talented a pure passer as there is in the Southeastern Conference. Rattler took his lumps in 2022 but flashed the awe-inspiring ability that made him such a prolific high school recruit and one of the more sought-after transfers in recent memory.
During wins over No. 5 Tennessee and No. 8 Clemson, the former Oklahoma signal-caller connected on 72% of his passes for a combined 792 yards and eight touchdowns to just two interceptions. The 438 yards in the Tennessee victory were a career-high. We’ll see if there’s any attrition in the quarterback room in the wake of Rattler’s return, but expect Luke Doty to back him up, while redshirt freshman Tanner Bailey ends up as the third-string guy.
RUNNING BACK
Projected starters: Mario Anderson Jr. (Newberry)
Other names to watch: Juju McDowell, Lovasea Carroll
The Gamecocks are about as thin as it gets at running back right now. With MarShawn Lloyd off to Southern Cal and Jaheim Bell transferring to Florida State, South Carolina enters the spring down its top two rushers from a year ago. Juju McDowell has been electric in spurts, but his diminutive stature likely makes him a better option to be a third-down and/or change-of-pace tailback rather than the bell cow.
Newberry College transfer Mario Anderson is among the most intriguing pieces for next year’s team. He was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, the equivalent of the Division II Heisman, last fall after rushing 1,560 yards and 19 touchdowns. His body type is a smidge smaller than Lloyd’s at 5-foot-9, 210 pounds, but he’s got legit SEC speed and shiftiness. Don’t be surprised if he ends up getting the lion’s share of touches this fall. Georgia transfer Lovasea Carroll should also be in the mix for some touches after spending this year acclimating back to running back. (He played defensive back for the Bulldogs.) It’s also expected the Gamecocks will look to add another running back via the portal.
TIGHT END
Projected starter: Trey Knox (Arkansas)
Other names to watch: Nick Elksnis (Florida), Joshua Simon (Western Kentucky), Reid Mikeska
South Carolina’s tight end room took a hit with Bell’s and Austin Stogner’s transfers, Traevon Kenion’s retirement from football and Nate Adkins’ graduation. That said, Jody Wright’s group has added in a big way this off-season. Trey Knox was a coup for the staff after he starred at Arkansas. He’s a massive body at 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, and should be the lead guy here.
The converted receiver could improve as a blocker, but has a big-time upside. Florida transfer Nick Elksnis and Western Kentucky import Joshua Simon should both see the field, too. Elksnis battled an injury in Gainesville that limited his effectiveness, but Dan Mullen’s staff was high on his potential before Billy Napier took over as head coach last year. Simon, a Columbia-area native, caught 86 passes for 1,146 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Hilltoppers over parts of four seasons and should be a major weapon in the passing game.
RECEIVER Projected starters: Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr., Dakereon Joyner, Xavier Legette
Other names to watch: Ahmarean Brown, Landon Samson, O’Mega Blake
South Carolina loses four of its top five pass-catchers from 2022, but the Gamecocks feel like they should be in OK shape at receiver. Wells is going to be the guy in this room after he, like Rattler, announced his return to school despite flirting with the NFL. He finished second in the SEC in yards receiving a year ago and could be poised for a Biletnikoff-like campaign. Expect big things from him. Xavier Legette is one of the more interesting returners given how he played in the Gator Bowl loss to No. 21 Notre Dame. Legette finished the contest with seven catches for 78 yards both career highs and two scores.
He’s a bouncy athlete who can make wild catches, but he’s never quite put it all together. The bowl performance should be a nice springboard into this year. Ahmarean Brown has flashed in spurts but hasn’t quite become a fixture of the offense like he was projected to be coming in from Georgia Tech. The opportunity will be there in 2023.
OFFENSIVE LINE Projected starters: Tyshawn Wannamaker, Vershon Lee, Nick Gargiulo (Yale), Jakai Moore, Cason Henry
Other names to watch: Trai Jones, Grayson Mains, Sidney Fugar (Western Illinois), Markee Anderson, Trovon Baugh
South Carolina is losing a handful of big pieces from this year’s offensive line in center Eric Douglas, guard Jovaughn Gwyn and tackle Dylan Wonnum. The bodies should be there, though, to replace the production. Tyshawn Wannamaker stepped in for Wonnum at tackle in the bowl game and has plenty of game experience. Jakai Moore has also played plenty in his career and showed promise at guard after shifting inside late in the season.
Vershon Lee is likely the best player coming back along the line and should be a stalwart at guard if the Gamecocks don’t decide to move him to center. Assuming Lee stays at guard, Yale transfer Nick Gargiulo is a good bet to get the nod at center. Gargiulo started his career at tackle, but moved inside for the Bulldogs last year. He’s got the football smarts to call protections and could be a sneakily impressive transfer portal pickup for the Gamecocks.
Freshman Cason Henry received some snaps down the stretch this fall and feels like a likely candidate to slide into the other tackle spot vacated by Moore’s move. Four-star freshmen Markee Anderson and Trovon Baugh could also end up getting some run in 2023
