These South Carolina position groups have the most storylines in 2018
The South Carolina football team has relative stability across a lot of its offense going into the 2018 season.
But there are a few spots with more questions to be answered before and when the team takes the field come September:
Special teams
Yeah, it’s a little weird to start here, but the kicker situation is odd to say the least. Parker White was exactly good enough that his job seems in no way secure. He’ll be competing with Shane Hynes, a Kent State transfer whose numbers don’t exactly look a ton better than White’s. Deebo Samuel coming back at kick returner is big, especially if he doesn’t take long to round into form. More of a question is punt returner, where Chris Lammons provided more explosiveness than you think (with a handful of adventurous catches). USC will have explosive options there, but someone has to fill the shoes after it was a mess in Muschamp’s first season. USC’s punt and kickoff numbers were quite good last year.
Secondary
Three starters are gone, and another changed positions. Two grad transfers joined, and a guy who hardly played last regular season is being penciled in as a likely starter in a crucial spot. One promising redshirt who missed last year and the spring (Jaylin Dickerson) has starting potential if he’s healthy. We know Rashad Fenton will be an anchor on one side after a breakout year. We know Steven Montac will have a big role at safety. We know Keisean Nixon is likely destined to be a sturdy presence at nickel. Beyond that, can former Texas A&M starter Nick Harvey start on the outside, how does Jamyest Williams take to safety and which of the talented incoming freshmen find roles?
Defensive line
Having D.J. Wonnum, Javon Kinlaw and Keir Thomas in place as starters already helps a good bit, but the group will have a lot of back-end turnover and a slight switch in philosophy. USC is going to smaller looks, meaning Thomas, once a 265-pound end, will be more of a tackle, with 240-pound Aaron Sterling taking his place. The backups on the outside include intriguing sophomore Buck Brad Johnson and former top-end recruit Shameik Blackshear. The middle is a question with an array of options in veteran Kobe Smith, JUCO addition Jabari Ellis, four-star freshman Rick Sandidge and Kingsley Enagbare, a former end who is bulking up to play inside.