GCF 2022 SEC Season Preview: South Carolina Gamecocks
August 17, 2022
SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS
Head Coach: Shane Beamer – second season at South Carolina and overall (7-6 overall, 3-5 SEC)
Offensive Coordinator: Marcus Satterfield (second season)
Defensive Coordinator: Clayton White (second season)
2021 Recap: 7-6 (3-5 SEC); defeated North Carolina in Duke’s Mayo Bowl
The Gamecocks were a pretty fortunate team in Shane Beamer’s debut season, surviving close games against East Carolina and Vanderbilt heading into November with a chance at a bowl bid. Gamecocks were aided by drawing two collapsing teams at home in Florida and Auburn, and the Gamecocks knocked off both to get to a surprising six wins. Beamer had to use three different quarterbacks, and the roster as a whole was pretty lacking in what was inherited from the Will Muschamp era. The new staff created some buzz, and that’s the first step back for this program that just a decade ago won 11 games in three straight seasons. Let's move forward to the present day.
2022 SCHEDULE
2021/2020/2019/2018/2017/2016
Under Center
Oklahoma star quarterback Spencer Rattler is now a Gamecock for a least the 2022 season. Rattler lost his job in Norman midway through the 2021 season, and after a tumultuous offseason, Rattler chose to transfer to South Carolina and take over a quarterback-starved program that needed help under center. More on Rattler
Rattler has a huge arm and nearly 20 games of starting experience. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what went wrong at Oklahoma, but Rattler often looked like he played in a bit of a rage. Perhaps a reigning in of his emotions could help elevate him back to the quarterback he was late in the 2020 season. It’s been a decade since the Gamecocks have had this level of talent at the position, and it falls on Beamer and offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield to ensure it doesn’t go to waste.
In The Trenches
The Gamecocks brings back its entire offensive line, but is that as good as it sounds? They did have their share of problems. was it due to youth or the new scheme under Satterfield pro-style offense? The Gamecocks allowed 31 sacks in 2021 and failed to rush for four yards per carry. The hope is that, with Rattler, opponents will have to respect the passing game more than they did a year ago when South Carolina was just trying to get by at quarterback. The Gamecocks hit the portal to bring in running back Christian Beal-Smith at running back after he ran for 600-plus yards at Wake Forest a year ago. Third-year sophomore Marshawn Lloyd was a prized recruit, but injuries have slowed his development. The reluctance to rely on Lloyd for a 200-carry season forced South Carolina to look elsewhere for help replacing Kevin Harris and ZaQuandre White.
Lets turn to the defensive front seven is, their they are in pretty good shape despite losing its best player in defensive end Kingsley Enagbare, a mid-round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers. Zacch Pickens is a high-level tackle, and former star recruit Jordan Burch is overdue for a breakout season off the edge as a junior. Whether or not middle linebacker Sherrod Greene can return to form after a pair of injury-riddle season is a huge key for this group.
On The Edge
There was a gap in quality receiver play after Deebo Samuel and Brian Edwards left to go pro, but looking like this group appears to be in much better shape than in the past few seasons. The Gamecocks will be led by veteran Josh Vann, Swiss-army knife Dakereon Joyner, and tight ends Jaheim Bell and Austin Stogner, the latter having come over from Oklahoma with Rattler. The South Carolina passing game should easily be the most improved in the SEC.
The secondary was a staple of this program during the Muschamp era, and some of Coach Boom’s recruiting has allowed Beamer and coordinator Clayton White to maintain a quality back end of the defense. Nickelback Cam Smith and safety R.J. Roderick are the top players, but there’s an experience all around. Among SEC teams, only Georgia had more interceptions than the Gamecocks did in the 2021 season.
Ranking The Units
1. Defensive Backs
2. Offensive Line
3. Quarterbacks
4. Running Backs
5. Receivers
6. Linebackers
7. Defensive Line
Schedule Analysis
The Gamecocks have a tricky opener against Georgia State, which nearly beat Auburn last year, but that is a must-win for the Gamecocks with games against on the road Arkansas at 11:00 am central kick-off set and a home game vs. Georgia the following two weeks. The Razorbacks replace Auburn as the rotating opponent, which was a gift for the Gamecocks last year after catching the Tigers in their November swoon. Getting a key game for bowl hopes against Missouri at home is a good thing. Postseason aspirations may come down to a late pair of back-to-back games against Florida in Gainesville and Tennessee in Columbia. This program isn’t ready to finally beat Clemson again, especially with the game in Death Valley.
Season Prediction
A lot will focus on QB. The question can the Gamecocks push the right buttons with Rattler? Lincoln Riley couldn’t find them a year ago? If so, there’s a path to eight wins is there? If not, the schedule could leave this team home for the holidays for the 2022 season.
Here we go. The Gamecocks might be a better team with a worse record. That's the thinking in Vegas. Beamer appears to be the right man for this job, but progress isn’t always linear on the bottom line. or is it? I will call for an 8-5 season with a hungry Rattler at the helm, Gamecocks will go bowling this postseason for too in a row.
KEY GAMES
SOUTH CAROLINA AT ARKANSAS ON SEPT. 10
MUST WIN SOUTH CAROLINA AT KENTUCKY ON OCT. 8
SOUTH CAROLINA VS. TENNESSEE NOV. 19
GCF PREDICTION
Record: 8-4 (4-4 SEC)
August 17, 2022
SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS
Head Coach: Shane Beamer – second season at South Carolina and overall (7-6 overall, 3-5 SEC)
Offensive Coordinator: Marcus Satterfield (second season)
Defensive Coordinator: Clayton White (second season)
2021 Recap: 7-6 (3-5 SEC); defeated North Carolina in Duke’s Mayo Bowl
The Gamecocks were a pretty fortunate team in Shane Beamer’s debut season, surviving close games against East Carolina and Vanderbilt heading into November with a chance at a bowl bid. Gamecocks were aided by drawing two collapsing teams at home in Florida and Auburn, and the Gamecocks knocked off both to get to a surprising six wins. Beamer had to use three different quarterbacks, and the roster as a whole was pretty lacking in what was inherited from the Will Muschamp era. The new staff created some buzz, and that’s the first step back for this program that just a decade ago won 11 games in three straight seasons. Let's move forward to the present day.
2022 SCHEDULE
2021/2020/2019/2018/2017/2016
| Date |
|
Opponent | TV Time | Score |
| 9/03 |
|
Georgia St. | ESPN+ | 7:30pm |
| 9/10 |
|
@ Arkansas | ESPN | Noon |
| 9/17 |
|
Georgia | ESPN | Noon |
| 9/24 |
|
Charlotte 49ers | ||
| 10/01 |
|
SC State | ||
| 10/08 |
|
@ Kentucky | ||
| 10/15 | Open date | |||
| 10/22 |
|
Texas A&M | ||
| 10/29 |
|
Missouri | ||
| 11/05 |
|
@ Vanderbilt | ||
| 11/12 |
|
@ Florida | ||
| 11/19 |
|
Tennessee | ||
| 11/26 |
|
@ Clemson | ||
Under Center
Oklahoma star quarterback Spencer Rattler is now a Gamecock for a least the 2022 season. Rattler lost his job in Norman midway through the 2021 season, and after a tumultuous offseason, Rattler chose to transfer to South Carolina and take over a quarterback-starved program that needed help under center. More on Rattler
Rattler has a huge arm and nearly 20 games of starting experience. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what went wrong at Oklahoma, but Rattler often looked like he played in a bit of a rage. Perhaps a reigning in of his emotions could help elevate him back to the quarterback he was late in the 2020 season. It’s been a decade since the Gamecocks have had this level of talent at the position, and it falls on Beamer and offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield to ensure it doesn’t go to waste.
In The Trenches
The Gamecocks brings back its entire offensive line, but is that as good as it sounds? They did have their share of problems. was it due to youth or the new scheme under Satterfield pro-style offense? The Gamecocks allowed 31 sacks in 2021 and failed to rush for four yards per carry. The hope is that, with Rattler, opponents will have to respect the passing game more than they did a year ago when South Carolina was just trying to get by at quarterback. The Gamecocks hit the portal to bring in running back Christian Beal-Smith at running back after he ran for 600-plus yards at Wake Forest a year ago. Third-year sophomore Marshawn Lloyd was a prized recruit, but injuries have slowed his development. The reluctance to rely on Lloyd for a 200-carry season forced South Carolina to look elsewhere for help replacing Kevin Harris and ZaQuandre White.
Lets turn to the defensive front seven is, their they are in pretty good shape despite losing its best player in defensive end Kingsley Enagbare, a mid-round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers. Zacch Pickens is a high-level tackle, and former star recruit Jordan Burch is overdue for a breakout season off the edge as a junior. Whether or not middle linebacker Sherrod Greene can return to form after a pair of injury-riddle season is a huge key for this group.
On The Edge
There was a gap in quality receiver play after Deebo Samuel and Brian Edwards left to go pro, but looking like this group appears to be in much better shape than in the past few seasons. The Gamecocks will be led by veteran Josh Vann, Swiss-army knife Dakereon Joyner, and tight ends Jaheim Bell and Austin Stogner, the latter having come over from Oklahoma with Rattler. The South Carolina passing game should easily be the most improved in the SEC.
The secondary was a staple of this program during the Muschamp era, and some of Coach Boom’s recruiting has allowed Beamer and coordinator Clayton White to maintain a quality back end of the defense. Nickelback Cam Smith and safety R.J. Roderick are the top players, but there’s an experience all around. Among SEC teams, only Georgia had more interceptions than the Gamecocks did in the 2021 season.
Ranking The Units
1. Defensive Backs
2. Offensive Line
3. Quarterbacks
4. Running Backs
5. Receivers
6. Linebackers
7. Defensive Line
Schedule Analysis
The Gamecocks have a tricky opener against Georgia State, which nearly beat Auburn last year, but that is a must-win for the Gamecocks with games against on the road Arkansas at 11:00 am central kick-off set and a home game vs. Georgia the following two weeks. The Razorbacks replace Auburn as the rotating opponent, which was a gift for the Gamecocks last year after catching the Tigers in their November swoon. Getting a key game for bowl hopes against Missouri at home is a good thing. Postseason aspirations may come down to a late pair of back-to-back games against Florida in Gainesville and Tennessee in Columbia. This program isn’t ready to finally beat Clemson again, especially with the game in Death Valley.
Season Prediction
A lot will focus on QB. The question can the Gamecocks push the right buttons with Rattler? Lincoln Riley couldn’t find them a year ago? If so, there’s a path to eight wins is there? If not, the schedule could leave this team home for the holidays for the 2022 season.
Here we go. The Gamecocks might be a better team with a worse record. That's the thinking in Vegas. Beamer appears to be the right man for this job, but progress isn’t always linear on the bottom line. or is it? I will call for an 8-5 season with a hungry Rattler at the helm, Gamecocks will go bowling this postseason for too in a row.
KEY GAMES
SOUTH CAROLINA AT ARKANSAS ON SEPT. 10
MUST WIN SOUTH CAROLINA AT KENTUCKY ON OCT. 8
SOUTH CAROLINA VS. TENNESSEE NOV. 19
GCF PREDICTION
Record: 8-4 (4-4 SEC)
