Grading the Gamecock's offense, defense, and special teams through six games
Oct. 15, 2022
Gamecocks are halfway home. Ending the in a win over No. 13 Kentucky on Saturday, Gamecocks are standing at a 4-2 season,. The Gamecocks now will go into the crucial middle portion of the 2022 schedule. The tail of the tap let's grade the offense through the first six games so far n the 2022 season :
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK
Grade: C -: Spencer Rattler came to South Carolina as perhaps the most ballyhooed quarterback in program history. The results have been, well at the best-mixed bag.
Rattler has shown the precision and “wow” factor that made him such a sought-after commodity this offseason in flashes, but that’s been coupled with underwhelming stretches. He currently ranks eighth in the Southeastern Conference in passing (1,297 yards), 10th in touchdown passes (5), and has the most interceptions (8).
That said, Rattler has seemingly turned a corner of late. He’s completed at least 73% of his throws in each of his last three games. His sharpness also played a big part in South Carolina’s win over Kentucky this past week. If there’s a silver lining, backup quarterback Luke Doty has looked good in spurts. He still projects the future of the position in Columbia. I and others expected more out of Rattler this fall than what he has shown first half of the season which gives Gamecocks QB a C-.
RUNNING BACK
Grade: B: MarShawn Lloyd has been a bonafide star for South Carolina this season. Lloyd ranks second among SEC running backs in touchdowns, while his 434 yards through six games are tied for the seventh-best mark in the league alongside Ole Miss tailback Zach Evans. My biggest qualm, if you can even call it that, is that it took Lloyd a few weeks to get going. He was largely invisible over the Gamecocks’ first three games recording just 75 yards and two touchdowns in contests against Georgia, Georgia State, and Arkansas.
South Carolina’s backups, too, have shown in spurts, but not as consistently as we might’ve projected entering the year. Wake Forest transfer Christian Beal-Smith has battled injuries for the bulk of the 2022 season but flashed a physical, north-south rushing ability when healthy. He’s recorded just 76 yards on 20 carries this year, though he does have three touchdowns. Juju McDowell has also added a nice sophomore campaign to his resume. The minute speedster is second on the team with 135 yards on his 39 attempts. He also has another 75 yards on 14 catches.
RECEIVER
Grade: B: South Carolina, like the quarterback, seemingly upgraded significantly at receiver this fall. But it’s been a bit of a mixed bag here as well. James Madison import Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. has primarily been a revelation. He torched Arkansas for 189 yards and a touchdown, while his 42-yard screen score on Saturday broke open the win over Kentucky. He needs to be more consistent in the back half of the slate, but his big-play potential has been a major addition. Jalen Brooks has also burst back onto the scene in 2022. Brooks was away from the team for undisclosed reasons after six games in 2021. He’s developed as good a rapport with Rattler as anyone this year, sitting second on the team with 335 yards. Brooks’ 16.75 yards per catch are also almost three yards better than anyone on South Carolina’s roster.
Outside of Brooks and Wells, it’s been a quieter first half of the season for the rest of the receiver room. Ahmarean Brown has flashed in spurts, but hasn’t had more than three catches in a game. Last year’s leading receiver, Josh Vann, has also fallen off significantly, notching just five total receptions for 29 yards.
TIGHT END
Grade: C-: C- not because of talent a area loaded for the Gamecocks but play here has been erratic through the first six games of 2022. Do-it-all weapon Jaheim Bell currently ranks fourth on the team in receiving, but he’s recorded more than two catches in a contest just once this year. That’s not good enough for a player that was discussed as a possible first-round draft pick entering the season.
Oklahoma transfer Austin Stogner has come on more of late, though he hasn’t quite taken off like some myself included thought he might. Stogner ranks just behind Bell with 10 catches for 119 yards and one touchdown. He has been valuable as a blocker on the edge, as well. Nate Adkins has factored into the game plan more and more of late, though his production has come mostly as a blocker at tight end and fullback. He’s been a nice complementary piece to this unit, even if he only has one catch for two yards.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Grade: C+: The Gamecocks’ offensive line was a mess to start the season, but it has seemingly turned a corner and looks better days ahead for this group.
South Carolina has allowed only one sack in its last four games dating back to the loss to Georgia. Its three best pass-blocking efforts of the year, per Pro Football Focus, have also come in the last three weeks. Jovaughn Gwyn has continued to be a mauler at guard, earning SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors following the Kentucky win. He’ll need to continue his play into the second half. South Carolina has rotated a few bodies given injuries along the line.
That’s led to extended time for reserves Tyshawn Wannamaker and Jakai Moore, who rank as the two best run blockers on the team, per PFF. USC has been without offensive line coach Greg Adkins since the S.C. State game, but interim Lonnie Teasley has gotten a pair of solid performances out of this group. South Carolina will hope the recent trends are more par for the course on the back half of the schedule.
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE
Grade B-: Like linebacker, South Carolina was behind the eight ball almost immediately along its defensive line. Defensive end Jordan Strachan went down with a season-ending injury at Arkansas. Edge rusher Terrell Dawkins underwent knee surgery in late September and the Gamecocks are hopeful he can return by November, though that timeline isn’t altogether clear. Defensive tackle Alex “Boogie” Huntley has also been in and out of the lineup with a foot injury. That said, those who have played offered a glimpse at what this group can be at full health.
Zacch Pickens continues to be a monster up front, eating space and plugging gaps like he was expected to. South Carolina has also gotten ample production from M.J. Webb, Nick Barrett, and Tonka Hemingway — who’s played inside and out of late. Former five-star recruit Jordan Burch has become increasingly disruptive on the edge but has just 2.5 sacks so far this year. He’s come close, notching five quarterback hurries and a pass breakup. Defensive end Gilber Edmond has also shined in place of Strachan. Edmond was a project who had played mostly receiver in high school when he landed in South Carolina. Two-plus years of work and another offseason, and he’s become a disruptive force in recent weeks.
South Carolina’s defensive line is hard to completely handicap because of the injuries. After a few productive weeks, though, the group has started to look closer to what we expected in the preseason unit deserving of a B-.
SECONDARY
Grade: B+: South Carolina’s secondary has been as banged up as any position group this fall. Really have not seen their potential here because injuries lead to the B-.Darius Rush, David Spaulding, and R.J. Roderick have all missed time this fall. Clayton White’s Gamecocks haven’t even had their initial group of starters healthy all at once since the first drive of the season opener against Georgia State.
Still, this group has performed admirably. Freshmen Nick Emmanwori and DQ Smith have stars filling in for those injured upperclassmen. Emmanwori leads the team in tackles (37) and has more than double as many solo stops (31) as any other player on the roster. Smith, too, has been a stud notching 19 tackles, two pass breakups an interception, and a touchdown off a punt block. Cam Smith has continued to look the part of an NFL defensive back so far, splitting time between nickel and cornerback. His play alongside Rush and Spaulding when they’ve been healthy has boosted a defense in need of some help.
South Carolina currently ranks fifth in the Southeastern Conference against the pass and is tied for the league lead in interceptions (8) with Mississippi State. The most impressive part? Seven of those picks have come in the last three games. Injuries have led to some explosive plays, but the Gamecocks seem to be turning a corner in the secondary. Given all the missed time between this group, it’s hard to say they could’ve played much better in the year's first half.
LINEBACKER
Grade: B: The loss of Mo Kaba to a season-ending injury in Week 2 at Arkansas stung, but South Carolina has managed to mitigate his absence to varying degrees. Debo Williams and Brad Johnson have largely held onto the starting roles in place of Kaba, combining for 30 tackles through six games. Johnson also added an interception and two quarterback hurries this fall.
Sherrod Greene arguably has been the biggest surprise of the group. The sixth-year senior lost his starting job to Kaba, but was thrust back into the rotation when Kaba went down. He’s responded resoundingly, ranking second on the team in tackles — including a team-high 12-tackle outing on Saturday at Kentucky. Freshman Stone Blanton and ex-junior college import Bam Martin-Scott have also shown some poise and promise in spurts this year. South Carolina has taken its lumps against the run. However, this group has largely buckled down with a few games figuring out the right rotation.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Grade: A: Whatever special teams coordinator Pete Lembo is being paid isn’t enough. South Carolina has quickly become one of the most exciting teams in America to watch on special teams given its propensity for wacky and weird trick plays. The Gamecocks have muddle-huddle two-point conversions, surprise onside kicks, and fake-punt passes all just in six games this year.
That’s not to mention that the Gamecocks are currently tied for the national lead in blocked kicks (5), almost doubling up the next closest SEC school in Ole Miss (3). Kicker Mitch Jeter has also quickly become a weapon for the Gamecocks. Replacing all-time leading scorer Parker White was always going to be a chore. Jeter has done so with ease, cashing in on 15 of 16 extra points and all six of his field goal attempts including a pair of 50-plus-yarders in the season opener.
Receiver Josh Vann has been another pleasant surprise on this side of things. Though his receiving numbers have dropped off a cliff, Vann is averaging almost four yards more per punt return than he did a year ago. That also doesn’t include the 70-yard touchdown return he had called back due to a flag against Charlotte. Shane Beamer’s father, Frank, developed a storied reputation on special teams play during his almost 30 years as the head coach at Virginia Tech. The younger Beamer has certainly taken a page out of his dad’s playbook this year and he’s passing the test with flying colors.
Oct. 15, 2022
Gamecocks are halfway home. Ending the in a win over No. 13 Kentucky on Saturday, Gamecocks are standing at a 4-2 season,. The Gamecocks now will go into the crucial middle portion of the 2022 schedule. The tail of the tap let's grade the offense through the first six games so far n the 2022 season :
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK
Grade: C -: Spencer Rattler came to South Carolina as perhaps the most ballyhooed quarterback in program history. The results have been, well at the best-mixed bag.
Rattler has shown the precision and “wow” factor that made him such a sought-after commodity this offseason in flashes, but that’s been coupled with underwhelming stretches. He currently ranks eighth in the Southeastern Conference in passing (1,297 yards), 10th in touchdown passes (5), and has the most interceptions (8).
That said, Rattler has seemingly turned a corner of late. He’s completed at least 73% of his throws in each of his last three games. His sharpness also played a big part in South Carolina’s win over Kentucky this past week. If there’s a silver lining, backup quarterback Luke Doty has looked good in spurts. He still projects the future of the position in Columbia. I and others expected more out of Rattler this fall than what he has shown first half of the season which gives Gamecocks QB a C-.
RUNNING BACK
Grade: B: MarShawn Lloyd has been a bonafide star for South Carolina this season. Lloyd ranks second among SEC running backs in touchdowns, while his 434 yards through six games are tied for the seventh-best mark in the league alongside Ole Miss tailback Zach Evans. My biggest qualm, if you can even call it that, is that it took Lloyd a few weeks to get going. He was largely invisible over the Gamecocks’ first three games recording just 75 yards and two touchdowns in contests against Georgia, Georgia State, and Arkansas.
South Carolina’s backups, too, have shown in spurts, but not as consistently as we might’ve projected entering the year. Wake Forest transfer Christian Beal-Smith has battled injuries for the bulk of the 2022 season but flashed a physical, north-south rushing ability when healthy. He’s recorded just 76 yards on 20 carries this year, though he does have three touchdowns. Juju McDowell has also added a nice sophomore campaign to his resume. The minute speedster is second on the team with 135 yards on his 39 attempts. He also has another 75 yards on 14 catches.
RECEIVER
Grade: B: South Carolina, like the quarterback, seemingly upgraded significantly at receiver this fall. But it’s been a bit of a mixed bag here as well. James Madison import Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. has primarily been a revelation. He torched Arkansas for 189 yards and a touchdown, while his 42-yard screen score on Saturday broke open the win over Kentucky. He needs to be more consistent in the back half of the slate, but his big-play potential has been a major addition. Jalen Brooks has also burst back onto the scene in 2022. Brooks was away from the team for undisclosed reasons after six games in 2021. He’s developed as good a rapport with Rattler as anyone this year, sitting second on the team with 335 yards. Brooks’ 16.75 yards per catch are also almost three yards better than anyone on South Carolina’s roster.
Outside of Brooks and Wells, it’s been a quieter first half of the season for the rest of the receiver room. Ahmarean Brown has flashed in spurts, but hasn’t had more than three catches in a game. Last year’s leading receiver, Josh Vann, has also fallen off significantly, notching just five total receptions for 29 yards.
TIGHT END
Grade: C-: C- not because of talent a area loaded for the Gamecocks but play here has been erratic through the first six games of 2022. Do-it-all weapon Jaheim Bell currently ranks fourth on the team in receiving, but he’s recorded more than two catches in a contest just once this year. That’s not good enough for a player that was discussed as a possible first-round draft pick entering the season.
Oklahoma transfer Austin Stogner has come on more of late, though he hasn’t quite taken off like some myself included thought he might. Stogner ranks just behind Bell with 10 catches for 119 yards and one touchdown. He has been valuable as a blocker on the edge, as well. Nate Adkins has factored into the game plan more and more of late, though his production has come mostly as a blocker at tight end and fullback. He’s been a nice complementary piece to this unit, even if he only has one catch for two yards.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Grade: C+: The Gamecocks’ offensive line was a mess to start the season, but it has seemingly turned a corner and looks better days ahead for this group.
South Carolina has allowed only one sack in its last four games dating back to the loss to Georgia. Its three best pass-blocking efforts of the year, per Pro Football Focus, have also come in the last three weeks. Jovaughn Gwyn has continued to be a mauler at guard, earning SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors following the Kentucky win. He’ll need to continue his play into the second half. South Carolina has rotated a few bodies given injuries along the line.
That’s led to extended time for reserves Tyshawn Wannamaker and Jakai Moore, who rank as the two best run blockers on the team, per PFF. USC has been without offensive line coach Greg Adkins since the S.C. State game, but interim Lonnie Teasley has gotten a pair of solid performances out of this group. South Carolina will hope the recent trends are more par for the course on the back half of the schedule.
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE
Grade B-: Like linebacker, South Carolina was behind the eight ball almost immediately along its defensive line. Defensive end Jordan Strachan went down with a season-ending injury at Arkansas. Edge rusher Terrell Dawkins underwent knee surgery in late September and the Gamecocks are hopeful he can return by November, though that timeline isn’t altogether clear. Defensive tackle Alex “Boogie” Huntley has also been in and out of the lineup with a foot injury. That said, those who have played offered a glimpse at what this group can be at full health.
Zacch Pickens continues to be a monster up front, eating space and plugging gaps like he was expected to. South Carolina has also gotten ample production from M.J. Webb, Nick Barrett, and Tonka Hemingway — who’s played inside and out of late. Former five-star recruit Jordan Burch has become increasingly disruptive on the edge but has just 2.5 sacks so far this year. He’s come close, notching five quarterback hurries and a pass breakup. Defensive end Gilber Edmond has also shined in place of Strachan. Edmond was a project who had played mostly receiver in high school when he landed in South Carolina. Two-plus years of work and another offseason, and he’s become a disruptive force in recent weeks.
South Carolina’s defensive line is hard to completely handicap because of the injuries. After a few productive weeks, though, the group has started to look closer to what we expected in the preseason unit deserving of a B-.
SECONDARY
Grade: B+: South Carolina’s secondary has been as banged up as any position group this fall. Really have not seen their potential here because injuries lead to the B-.Darius Rush, David Spaulding, and R.J. Roderick have all missed time this fall. Clayton White’s Gamecocks haven’t even had their initial group of starters healthy all at once since the first drive of the season opener against Georgia State.
Still, this group has performed admirably. Freshmen Nick Emmanwori and DQ Smith have stars filling in for those injured upperclassmen. Emmanwori leads the team in tackles (37) and has more than double as many solo stops (31) as any other player on the roster. Smith, too, has been a stud notching 19 tackles, two pass breakups an interception, and a touchdown off a punt block. Cam Smith has continued to look the part of an NFL defensive back so far, splitting time between nickel and cornerback. His play alongside Rush and Spaulding when they’ve been healthy has boosted a defense in need of some help.
South Carolina currently ranks fifth in the Southeastern Conference against the pass and is tied for the league lead in interceptions (8) with Mississippi State. The most impressive part? Seven of those picks have come in the last three games. Injuries have led to some explosive plays, but the Gamecocks seem to be turning a corner in the secondary. Given all the missed time between this group, it’s hard to say they could’ve played much better in the year's first half.
LINEBACKER
Grade: B: The loss of Mo Kaba to a season-ending injury in Week 2 at Arkansas stung, but South Carolina has managed to mitigate his absence to varying degrees. Debo Williams and Brad Johnson have largely held onto the starting roles in place of Kaba, combining for 30 tackles through six games. Johnson also added an interception and two quarterback hurries this fall.
Sherrod Greene arguably has been the biggest surprise of the group. The sixth-year senior lost his starting job to Kaba, but was thrust back into the rotation when Kaba went down. He’s responded resoundingly, ranking second on the team in tackles — including a team-high 12-tackle outing on Saturday at Kentucky. Freshman Stone Blanton and ex-junior college import Bam Martin-Scott have also shown some poise and promise in spurts this year. South Carolina has taken its lumps against the run. However, this group has largely buckled down with a few games figuring out the right rotation.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Grade: A: Whatever special teams coordinator Pete Lembo is being paid isn’t enough. South Carolina has quickly become one of the most exciting teams in America to watch on special teams given its propensity for wacky and weird trick plays. The Gamecocks have muddle-huddle two-point conversions, surprise onside kicks, and fake-punt passes all just in six games this year.
That’s not to mention that the Gamecocks are currently tied for the national lead in blocked kicks (5), almost doubling up the next closest SEC school in Ole Miss (3). Kicker Mitch Jeter has also quickly become a weapon for the Gamecocks. Replacing all-time leading scorer Parker White was always going to be a chore. Jeter has done so with ease, cashing in on 15 of 16 extra points and all six of his field goal attempts including a pair of 50-plus-yarders in the season opener.
Receiver Josh Vann has been another pleasant surprise on this side of things. Though his receiving numbers have dropped off a cliff, Vann is averaging almost four yards more per punt return than he did a year ago. That also doesn’t include the 70-yard touchdown return he had called back due to a flag against Charlotte. Shane Beamer’s father, Frank, developed a storied reputation on special teams play during his almost 30 years as the head coach at Virginia Tech. The younger Beamer has certainly taken a page out of his dad’s playbook this year and he’s passing the test with flying colors.
