Three pieces that could help make the Gamecocks offense go in 2022
August 23, 2022
South Carolina’s offense underwent a major makeover following the 2021 season. Former Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler is the headliner, but the Gamecocks got plenty of other help from the transfer portal. They’ll also bring back five starters along the offensive line and three others in tight end Jaheim Bell and receivers Josh Vann and Dakereon Joyner.
So how can South Carolina and offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield take a step forward this year? Here are three under-the-radar players who could make all the difference:
DAKEREON JOYNER, WR
Joyner’s transition from quarterback to the receiver is well-known. He came to the Gamecocks as a prolific quarterback in the high school ranks, at South Carolina he has bounced between the two positions during his career. This will be his second full season at the receiver position, The Gamecock should see growth there. It’s expected Joyner will also get some run at quarterback in a handful of wildcat packages given his top-end athleticism. Joyner doesn’t have to be the go-to guy in 2022. The Gamecocks have plenty of options between Vann, Bell, and transfers Corey Rucker and Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. But if he can be slightly more productive than he was a year ago, that stands to add a whole other dynamic to this unit.
Photo from The State
JOVAUGHN GWYN, RG
One of the better SEC offensive linemen. He’s at 6-foot-2, 302 pounds, and nimble enough to maneuver around the second level of defense when necessary. Gwyn is entering his fifth year in the program and figures to be the anchor of an offensive line that was far from efficient in 2021. He rated top of the three guards the Gamecocks employed last year in total offensive grade, pass blocking, and run blocking by Pro Football Focus. The hope is he can keep that form. Head coach Shane Beamer said Gwyn had as close to a “perfect” offseason as one could have. That only figures to help his play improve from last year.
The Gamecocks have to do a better job up front and can help make that happen, will be a key piece of the puzzle for this season's offensive line.
AUSTIN STOGNER, TE FROM THE PORTIL
Rattler draws most of the headlines here but Stogner former 5-star transfer from Oklahoma as well, Austin Stogner could most important addition on a couple of different levels. First one, Stogner is a big part of the reason Rattler even considered and, eventually, landed in Columbia. He also picked the Gamecocks over offers from Ohio State and Iowa State this offseason. That was a big coup for Beamer and his hard-working staff. Stogner faced a severe infection at the end of the 2020 season and never quite found his pre-injury form in 2021. He’s a guy that folks in NFL circles think plenty of ESPN’s Todd McShay rated him the No. 12 tight end in this year’s draft class. If he looks the part of a future pro alongside Bell and a loaded South Carolina receiving corps, the Gamecocks could be a matchup nightmare.
So those three could have a large impact on Carolina's season. Makeing a season that once agaion can propel the Gamecocks to a winning season making Beamrer and staff going two consevtive years.
August 23, 2022
South Carolina’s offense underwent a major makeover following the 2021 season. Former Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler is the headliner, but the Gamecocks got plenty of other help from the transfer portal. They’ll also bring back five starters along the offensive line and three others in tight end Jaheim Bell and receivers Josh Vann and Dakereon Joyner.
So how can South Carolina and offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield take a step forward this year? Here are three under-the-radar players who could make all the difference:
DAKEREON JOYNER, WR
Joyner’s transition from quarterback to the receiver is well-known. He came to the Gamecocks as a prolific quarterback in the high school ranks, at South Carolina he has bounced between the two positions during his career. This will be his second full season at the receiver position, The Gamecock should see growth there. It’s expected Joyner will also get some run at quarterback in a handful of wildcat packages given his top-end athleticism. Joyner doesn’t have to be the go-to guy in 2022. The Gamecocks have plenty of options between Vann, Bell, and transfers Corey Rucker and Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. But if he can be slightly more productive than he was a year ago, that stands to add a whole other dynamic to this unit.
Photo from The State
JOVAUGHN GWYN, RG
One of the better SEC offensive linemen. He’s at 6-foot-2, 302 pounds, and nimble enough to maneuver around the second level of defense when necessary. Gwyn is entering his fifth year in the program and figures to be the anchor of an offensive line that was far from efficient in 2021. He rated top of the three guards the Gamecocks employed last year in total offensive grade, pass blocking, and run blocking by Pro Football Focus. The hope is he can keep that form. Head coach Shane Beamer said Gwyn had as close to a “perfect” offseason as one could have. That only figures to help his play improve from last year.
The Gamecocks have to do a better job up front and can help make that happen, will be a key piece of the puzzle for this season's offensive line.
AUSTIN STOGNER, TE FROM THE PORTIL
Rattler draws most of the headlines here but Stogner former 5-star transfer from Oklahoma as well, Austin Stogner could most important addition on a couple of different levels. First one, Stogner is a big part of the reason Rattler even considered and, eventually, landed in Columbia. He also picked the Gamecocks over offers from Ohio State and Iowa State this offseason. That was a big coup for Beamer and his hard-working staff. Stogner faced a severe infection at the end of the 2020 season and never quite found his pre-injury form in 2021. He’s a guy that folks in NFL circles think plenty of ESPN’s Todd McShay rated him the No. 12 tight end in this year’s draft class. If he looks the part of a future pro alongside Bell and a loaded South Carolina receiving corps, the Gamecocks could be a matchup nightmare.
So those three could have a large impact on Carolina's season. Makeing a season that once agaion can propel the Gamecocks to a winning season making Beamrer and staff going two consevtive years.
