Gamecocks' preseason camp "filling in the blanks for key areas"
August 02. 2022
Gamecock football is only a few weeks away from kickoff. The Gamecocks open fall practice this Friday, Shane Beamer is heading into his second season in charge as the Gamecock head coach. The Gamecocks will have to fill in the blanks in some key areas during preseason camp before the opening vs Georgia State on Sept.3rd. Let's take a look at them starting with the defense.
WHAT CAN BE THE LEVEL OF PLAY WITH JORDAN STRACHAN AND JORDAN BURCH ON THE EDGE?
South Carolina’s defense brings back just about everyone, but it’ll lean on some fresher faces at the defensive end.
Jordan Strachan is only a year removed from finishing in a tie for the national lead in sacks during his final year at Georgia State. He flashed in spurts last season, his first campaign as a Gamecocks, but he wasn’t asked to do much beyond spelling Kingsley “JJ” Enagbare and Aaron Sterling. The same can be said for Jordan Burch, a former five-star recruit and the second-highest rated prospect to sign with South Carolina behind only Jadeveon Clowney. Burch was an all-world talent coming out of high school, but his production hasn’t matched the recruiting hype to date. He’s a year older, bigger, and stronger. The hope is that development and an expanded role will lead to the kind of stats those around Columbia hoped he’d bring as a prospect.
The Gamecocks will be deep again defensively. The secondary is virtually settled. Linebacker is a bit thin, but the pieces are there. Zacch Pickens should also anchor things on the interior alongside Alex “Boogie” Huntley and M.J. Webb. If Burch and Strachan can supplement the unit as edge rushers, the Gamecock defensive ceiling raises significantly.
WHO EMERGES AT RUNNING BACK FOR GAMECOCKS?
The two-headed rushing attack of Kevin Harris and ZaQuandre White is no more, as each player is off to the NFL. That leaves the Gamecocks in need of a lead back Offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield has said he’d prefer to have a No. 1 guy rather than rotate a few players in and out at tailback. That said, the Gamecocks have options. Wake Forest transfer Christian Beal-Smith led the Demon Deacons in rushing each of the last two years including in 2020 when he shared the backfield with eventual Heisman Trophy contender Kenneth Walker III. With one year of eligibility remaining, expect him to be squarely in the mix. MarShawn Lloyd is the other big factor here. The former top-65 recruit has been limited during his South Carolina by an ACL tear he suffered in fall camp as a freshman. Now entering his third year in the program, Beamer and his staff are hopeful he’s back to full-go. Lloyd looked the part of the speedster he was billed as coming out of high school during his limited reps last season. He’ll have every opportunity to be the lead back in 2022, and it’s not completely inconceivable he and Beal-Smith end up splitting time, despite Satterfield’s preference.
WHO’S GOING TO BE NUMBER ONE WR FOR SOUTH CAROLINA THIS YEAR?
The Gamecock offense had myriad issues last year four different quarterbacks, an ineffective offensive line and limited playmakers among them. That’s not quite the case here in 2022. The Gamecocks receiving corps, in particular, received a facelift via the transfer portal thanks to Antwane “Juice” Wells (James Madison) and Corey Rucker Jr. (Arkansas State). Throw in the returns of Josh Vann, Ahmarean Brown, Dakereon Joyner, Xavier Legette and Jalen Brooks, and the Gamecocks are suddenly as deep as anyone in the SEC.
Vann was the number1 WR for the most part of the season and comes back to Columbia after weighing his professional options. With the quarterback position more settled and a year as a key cog in the offense under his belt, the former four-star recruit could be in for another big year. There’s a caveat, though. Those within the program have been bullish as can be on Wells and Rucker. Wells’ name was all over the James Madison record books despite playing only 22 games over one-plus seasons with the Dukes. He might take some time to adjust to the speed of the Southeastern Conference compared with the FCS, but the talent is there for an all-league effort.
Rucker, too, torched defenses at a lower level during his time at Arkansas State and figures to be a big part of what the Gamecocks do offensively in 2022. He was under-recruited out of Mississippi and landed at ASU at the 11th hour. USC is hoping that skill he flashed in the Sun Belt translates to the SEC. Vann was the guy in 2021. Don’t be surprised if Wells and Rucker give him a run for his money this fall.
PRESEASON IMPORTANT DATES
All practices/scrimmages closed to the public
Thursday: Players report/Media Day Friday
First practice Aug. 13: Scrimmage at Williams-Brice Stadium
Aug. 20: Scrimmage at Williams-Brice Stadium
Aug. 25: Shane Beamer call-in radio show, 6 p.m.
Aug. 30: Beamer game week press conference, 1:30 p.m.
Sep. 1: Beamer call-in radio show, 6 p.m.
August 02. 2022
Gamecock football is only a few weeks away from kickoff. The Gamecocks open fall practice this Friday, Shane Beamer is heading into his second season in charge as the Gamecock head coach. The Gamecocks will have to fill in the blanks in some key areas during preseason camp before the opening vs Georgia State on Sept.3rd. Let's take a look at them starting with the defense.
WHAT CAN BE THE LEVEL OF PLAY WITH JORDAN STRACHAN AND JORDAN BURCH ON THE EDGE?
South Carolina’s defense brings back just about everyone, but it’ll lean on some fresher faces at the defensive end.
Jordan Strachan is only a year removed from finishing in a tie for the national lead in sacks during his final year at Georgia State. He flashed in spurts last season, his first campaign as a Gamecocks, but he wasn’t asked to do much beyond spelling Kingsley “JJ” Enagbare and Aaron Sterling. The same can be said for Jordan Burch, a former five-star recruit and the second-highest rated prospect to sign with South Carolina behind only Jadeveon Clowney. Burch was an all-world talent coming out of high school, but his production hasn’t matched the recruiting hype to date. He’s a year older, bigger, and stronger. The hope is that development and an expanded role will lead to the kind of stats those around Columbia hoped he’d bring as a prospect.
The Gamecocks will be deep again defensively. The secondary is virtually settled. Linebacker is a bit thin, but the pieces are there. Zacch Pickens should also anchor things on the interior alongside Alex “Boogie” Huntley and M.J. Webb. If Burch and Strachan can supplement the unit as edge rushers, the Gamecock defensive ceiling raises significantly.
WHO EMERGES AT RUNNING BACK FOR GAMECOCKS?
The two-headed rushing attack of Kevin Harris and ZaQuandre White is no more, as each player is off to the NFL. That leaves the Gamecocks in need of a lead back Offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield has said he’d prefer to have a No. 1 guy rather than rotate a few players in and out at tailback. That said, the Gamecocks have options. Wake Forest transfer Christian Beal-Smith led the Demon Deacons in rushing each of the last two years including in 2020 when he shared the backfield with eventual Heisman Trophy contender Kenneth Walker III. With one year of eligibility remaining, expect him to be squarely in the mix. MarShawn Lloyd is the other big factor here. The former top-65 recruit has been limited during his South Carolina by an ACL tear he suffered in fall camp as a freshman. Now entering his third year in the program, Beamer and his staff are hopeful he’s back to full-go. Lloyd looked the part of the speedster he was billed as coming out of high school during his limited reps last season. He’ll have every opportunity to be the lead back in 2022, and it’s not completely inconceivable he and Beal-Smith end up splitting time, despite Satterfield’s preference.
WHO’S GOING TO BE NUMBER ONE WR FOR SOUTH CAROLINA THIS YEAR?
The Gamecock offense had myriad issues last year four different quarterbacks, an ineffective offensive line and limited playmakers among them. That’s not quite the case here in 2022. The Gamecocks receiving corps, in particular, received a facelift via the transfer portal thanks to Antwane “Juice” Wells (James Madison) and Corey Rucker Jr. (Arkansas State). Throw in the returns of Josh Vann, Ahmarean Brown, Dakereon Joyner, Xavier Legette and Jalen Brooks, and the Gamecocks are suddenly as deep as anyone in the SEC.
Vann was the number1 WR for the most part of the season and comes back to Columbia after weighing his professional options. With the quarterback position more settled and a year as a key cog in the offense under his belt, the former four-star recruit could be in for another big year. There’s a caveat, though. Those within the program have been bullish as can be on Wells and Rucker. Wells’ name was all over the James Madison record books despite playing only 22 games over one-plus seasons with the Dukes. He might take some time to adjust to the speed of the Southeastern Conference compared with the FCS, but the talent is there for an all-league effort.
Rucker, too, torched defenses at a lower level during his time at Arkansas State and figures to be a big part of what the Gamecocks do offensively in 2022. He was under-recruited out of Mississippi and landed at ASU at the 11th hour. USC is hoping that skill he flashed in the Sun Belt translates to the SEC. Vann was the guy in 2021. Don’t be surprised if Wells and Rucker give him a run for his money this fall.
PRESEASON IMPORTANT DATES
All practices/scrimmages closed to the public
Thursday: Players report/Media Day Friday
First practice Aug. 13: Scrimmage at Williams-Brice Stadium
Aug. 20: Scrimmage at Williams-Brice Stadium
Aug. 25: Shane Beamer call-in radio show, 6 p.m.
Aug. 30: Beamer game week press conference, 1:30 p.m.
Sep. 1: Beamer call-in radio show, 6 p.m.
