Difficulty in assessing Ryan Hilinski‘s first season with South Carolina

[FeatheredCock]

Difficulty in assessing Ryan Hilinski‘s first season with South Carolina


Nov. 25, 2019

A season before Ryan Hilinski joined the Gamecocks; he said he relished adversity on the field. His high school team was hammered by injuries, but he saw the opportunity to learn from facing tough situations and lead players who might have a little less experience. Now in his first year as a Gamecock has saw him get thrown into the fire is a true freshman starter, and again saw injuries surround him. He’s attacked the season with energy despite getting knocked around. But the attrition of his receivers has made it somewhat difficult to assess him. (VIEW ARTICLE)

 

[kingofnerf]

I generally believe that he has been playing with a bad ACL just like Watson did that season at Clemson.

Nothing but Respect for him if this turns out to be true.

 

[Schark]

I generally believe that he has been playing with a bad ACL just like Watson did that season at Clemson.

Nothing but Respect for him if this turns out to be true.

He certainly hasn't appeared to be 100%.

I believe that he would have benefited from a redshirt year to help clear his head, get settled, and get used to the speed of the SEC.

 

[Mr Ed]

There is a school of thought that young QBs need to be protected early on so that they aren’t “ruined” before they mature.  The thought is to slowly let them develop preferably behind a seasoned starter and to gain confidence before being thrown into the fire.  

Unfortunately under Champ we have now seen two talented QBs start as true freshmen before they were ready, frankly in not so great offenses.  I wonder how this may have hindered Bentley with regards to confidence and his development during his time here and now I’m concerned about Hilinski.  He doesn’t appear to be the same QB that came out slinging it against Alabama.  I worry about his confidence moving forward.  

This is not to say anyone is at fault.  Bentley had to play because the inherited QB situation was dire in Champs first season.  Hilinski was to be Bentley’s understudy for a year but injury changed everything.  It’s just bad luck.