2011 Season: 11-2 (6-2)
Despite winning all five games against SEC East opponents, South Carolina was on the outside looking in regarding to the SEC Championship game due to losses against Auburn and Arkansas. In 2011, South Carolina had their most successful season so far in Steve Spurrier’s tenure as head coach for the Gamecocks. USC reached 11 wins and dominated Nebraska’s offense in the Capital One Bowl in which the Gamecocks won 30-13. In 2012, USC has the potential to be just as good as the year before with a fast offense and a physical defense.
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Gamecock coach Steve Spurrier [35:32]
2011 Offensive Ranks (Nationally)
Scoring: 30.1 PPG (42nd)
Rushing: 192.1 (25th)
Passing: 181.5 (95th)
Total: 373.5 (74th)
South Carolina’s offense went through some major changes last season with the change in quarterback and the loss of Marcus Lattimore at running back. This year, USC returns seven starters from last year’s squad including; Connor Shaw (QB), Marcus Lattimore (RB), Ace Sanders (WR), Justice Cunningham (TE), A.J. Cann (LG), T.J. Johnson © and Mike Matulis (RT). Connor Shaw has proven himself as the leader of this Gamecock offense last season as he led the Gamecocks to the Capital One Bowl without Marcus Lattimore. There are still question marks about his ability to stay in the pocket and make throws, but if he continues to win, those questions will be put to rest. Marcus Lattimore carried the ball 163 times for 818 yards and 10 touchdowns before getting injured on a blocking assignment against Mississippi State in the seventh game of the season. Lattimore was third on the team in receptions last season with 19 despite only playing in six full games last year.
Alshon Jeffrey has been the go-to target for Garcia and Shaw for the past few years, but now the Gamecocks most find a another wide receiver to rely on. Ace Sanders is the most productive wide receiver that returns to USC this season (29 receptions for 383 yards), but is does not possess the ball skills and height the Jeffrey brought to the unit. USC has plenty of depth when it comes to WR’s, so fans might see a lot of rotation on game days for the wide-outs. The Gamecocks has also added a lot of depth at tight end, which will be led by Justice Cunningham, who was fourth in receptions last season. The offensive line for the Gamecocks returns three starters from last year’s squad including T.J. Johnson, who is on the Rimington watch list for the nation’s best center. Brandon Shell, freshman, is said to have a lot of potential at LT, but will have to prove that in hurry as USC opens SEC play in Week 1.
Strength: Running Back. Marcus Lattimore will get his carries and yards as everyone expects, but USC proved last season that they can succeed without him. Brandon Wilds, Kenny Miles, Shon Carson and freshman, Mike Davis, give South Carolina depth to a position in which they have a Heisman candidate for.
Weakness: Offensive Line. USC does return three starters from last year, but the loss of Nunn and Watkins at left and right tackle presents a weakness that pass rushers in the SEC might take advantage of this season.
2011 Defensive Ranks (Nationally)
Scoring: 18.4 PPG (11th)
Rushing: 136.0 YPG (45th)
Passing: 131.7 YPG (2nd)
Total: 267.7 (3rd)
Lorenzo Ward takes over as defensive coordinator this year after Ellis Johnson left to become the head coach at Southern Mississippi. Ward does have one game under his belt, as he along with his defense held Nebraska to 253 yards and forced two turnovers in a win against the Cornhuskers. USC’s third ranked defense last season returns six starters including Devin Taylor (DE), Jadeveon Clowney (DE), Kelcy Quarles (DT), Shaq Wilson (LB), DeVonte Holloman (SPUR) and D.J. Swearinger (FS). Taylor and Clowney might be the best defensive end duo in the country and will present an immediate pass rush for the Gamecocks. Quarles and Byron Jerideau, who combined for 35 tackles last season, will be the plugs inside to stop the run for the USC defense.
Shaq Wilson, fourth in tackles last season for USC, is the only returning true linebacker for the Gamecocks this season, but DeVonte Holloman, who played safety last season, will take over Antonio Allen’s spot at SPUR. Holloman was one tackle behind Wilson (51) last year and gives the USC much needed speed at linebacker. Akeem Auguste and Victor Hampton will be the starting cornerbacks this season for the Gamecocks and have a lot to play up to as USC was second in the nation in pass defense last year. D.J. Swearinger, All-SEC candidate, returns at free safety where he was second in tackles at USC with 80 and picked off three balls.
Strength: Defensive End. Clowney and Taylor are both tall, speedy pass rushers that have the ability to do damage to any offensive line in SEC and get to the quarterback. Together they combined for 78 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks last season.
Weakness: Cornerback. Auguste and Hampton are no strangers to playing cornerback as they both played some last season. They will be tested early as they face Vanderbilt, East Carolina and Missouri in the first four weeks of the season, and all of them have successful passing offenses.
South Carolina Schedule
Aug. 30 at Vanderbilt
Sept. 8 EAST CAROLINA
Sept. 15 UAB
Sept. 22 MISSOURI
Sept. 29 at Kentucky
Oct. 6 GEORGIA
Oct. 13 at LSU
Oct. 20 at Florida
Oct. 27 TENNESSEE
Nov. 10 ARKANSAS
Nov. 17 WOFFORD
Nov. 24 at Clemson
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Despite winning all five games against SEC East opponents, South Carolina was on the outside looking in regarding to the SEC Championship game due to losses against Auburn and Arkansas. In 2011, South Carolina had their most successful season so far in Steve Spurrier’s tenure as head coach for the Gamecocks. USC reached 11 wins and dominated Nebraska’s offense in the Capital One Bowl in which the Gamecocks won 30-13. In 2012, USC has the potential to be just as good as the year before with a fast offense and a physical defense.
AUDIO:Download
0:00
Gamecock coach Steve Spurrier [35:32]
2011 Offensive Ranks (Nationally)
Scoring: 30.1 PPG (42nd)
Rushing: 192.1 (25th)
Passing: 181.5 (95th)
Total: 373.5 (74th)
South Carolina’s offense went through some major changes last season with the change in quarterback and the loss of Marcus Lattimore at running back. This year, USC returns seven starters from last year’s squad including; Connor Shaw (QB), Marcus Lattimore (RB), Ace Sanders (WR), Justice Cunningham (TE), A.J. Cann (LG), T.J. Johnson © and Mike Matulis (RT). Connor Shaw has proven himself as the leader of this Gamecock offense last season as he led the Gamecocks to the Capital One Bowl without Marcus Lattimore. There are still question marks about his ability to stay in the pocket and make throws, but if he continues to win, those questions will be put to rest. Marcus Lattimore carried the ball 163 times for 818 yards and 10 touchdowns before getting injured on a blocking assignment against Mississippi State in the seventh game of the season. Lattimore was third on the team in receptions last season with 19 despite only playing in six full games last year.
Alshon Jeffrey has been the go-to target for Garcia and Shaw for the past few years, but now the Gamecocks most find a another wide receiver to rely on. Ace Sanders is the most productive wide receiver that returns to USC this season (29 receptions for 383 yards), but is does not possess the ball skills and height the Jeffrey brought to the unit. USC has plenty of depth when it comes to WR’s, so fans might see a lot of rotation on game days for the wide-outs. The Gamecocks has also added a lot of depth at tight end, which will be led by Justice Cunningham, who was fourth in receptions last season. The offensive line for the Gamecocks returns three starters from last year’s squad including T.J. Johnson, who is on the Rimington watch list for the nation’s best center. Brandon Shell, freshman, is said to have a lot of potential at LT, but will have to prove that in hurry as USC opens SEC play in Week 1.
Strength: Running Back. Marcus Lattimore will get his carries and yards as everyone expects, but USC proved last season that they can succeed without him. Brandon Wilds, Kenny Miles, Shon Carson and freshman, Mike Davis, give South Carolina depth to a position in which they have a Heisman candidate for.
Weakness: Offensive Line. USC does return three starters from last year, but the loss of Nunn and Watkins at left and right tackle presents a weakness that pass rushers in the SEC might take advantage of this season.
2011 Defensive Ranks (Nationally)
Scoring: 18.4 PPG (11th)
Rushing: 136.0 YPG (45th)
Passing: 131.7 YPG (2nd)
Total: 267.7 (3rd)
Lorenzo Ward takes over as defensive coordinator this year after Ellis Johnson left to become the head coach at Southern Mississippi. Ward does have one game under his belt, as he along with his defense held Nebraska to 253 yards and forced two turnovers in a win against the Cornhuskers. USC’s third ranked defense last season returns six starters including Devin Taylor (DE), Jadeveon Clowney (DE), Kelcy Quarles (DT), Shaq Wilson (LB), DeVonte Holloman (SPUR) and D.J. Swearinger (FS). Taylor and Clowney might be the best defensive end duo in the country and will present an immediate pass rush for the Gamecocks. Quarles and Byron Jerideau, who combined for 35 tackles last season, will be the plugs inside to stop the run for the USC defense.
Shaq Wilson, fourth in tackles last season for USC, is the only returning true linebacker for the Gamecocks this season, but DeVonte Holloman, who played safety last season, will take over Antonio Allen’s spot at SPUR. Holloman was one tackle behind Wilson (51) last year and gives the USC much needed speed at linebacker. Akeem Auguste and Victor Hampton will be the starting cornerbacks this season for the Gamecocks and have a lot to play up to as USC was second in the nation in pass defense last year. D.J. Swearinger, All-SEC candidate, returns at free safety where he was second in tackles at USC with 80 and picked off three balls.
Strength: Defensive End. Clowney and Taylor are both tall, speedy pass rushers that have the ability to do damage to any offensive line in SEC and get to the quarterback. Together they combined for 78 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks last season.
Weakness: Cornerback. Auguste and Hampton are no strangers to playing cornerback as they both played some last season. They will be tested early as they face Vanderbilt, East Carolina and Missouri in the first four weeks of the season, and all of them have successful passing offenses.
South Carolina Schedule
Aug. 30 at Vanderbilt
Sept. 8 EAST CAROLINA
Sept. 15 UAB
Sept. 22 MISSOURI
Sept. 29 at Kentucky
Oct. 6 GEORGIA
Oct. 13 at LSU
Oct. 20 at Florida
Oct. 27 TENNESSEE
Nov. 10 ARKANSAS
Nov. 17 WOFFORD
Nov. 24 at Clemson
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