South Carolina football spring preview: Offense has work to do under new leadership
South Carolina football heads into 2020 spring practice off a season when the offense struggled in all sorts of ways. A few key faces are gone, including the whole backfield and the top options at receiver and tight end. That’s in addition to Mike Bobo taking over as offensive coordinator and other position coach changes.
Spring workouts begin Feb. 26. What to watch at each position across more than a month of practice:
Quarterbacks
One of the biggest factors in this race won’t be playing a part in spring ball. Colorado State grad transfer Collin Hill is out with a knee injury. He’s the most likely candidate to push returning starter Ryan Hilinski. The big thing will be watching a pair of former four-star quarterbacks answer sets of questions, Hilinski got a lot of reps last season, but he has to improve his efficiency and take a next step in his game. This will be the first chance to see freshman Luke Doty in a college setting. One other thing to watch is the usage of Jay Urich, who is slated to continue his transition to wide receiver but was also mentioned on signing day by Will Muschamp among the QBs.
Watch this interesting storyline: What Hilinski looks like healthy, with a year under his belt and with a new position coach.
Running backs
The main attraction is simply going to be MarShawn Lloyd. The borderline five-star tailback joins a room with only two returning scholarship players. He’s a talent, to be sure, and how he rises early on should say something about what the Gamecocks might have in him. Beyond the freshman, Kevin Harris impressed the staff before last season, tore up an FCS foe and then didn’t do a ton after missing a stretch following surgery. His work last season and experience make him a starter candidate, while Deshaun Fenwick has also had moments and will have his chance to make his case. If you’re really curious, it might bear watching which walk-ons get the work behind that top three.
Watch this interesting storyline: Former running backs coach Thomas Brown had a hard-and-fast, two-back arrangement. How the new coach, as yet undetermined, handles things will be something to watch.
Wide receivers
Outside Shi Smith being all but guaranteed to be a starter for the fourth season running, this position is nothing but questions, questions, questions. Xavier Legette got a lot of work last year as a freshman but was raw. Josh Vann showed flashes but had long stretches without much production. OrTre Smith still wasn’t healthy a year after a knee procedure. Beyond that are a several talents (Tyquan Johnson, Chad Terrell) who saw little to no time in 2019. One freshman, Mike Wyman, joins the group for spring. Former quarterback Dakereon Joyner also appears to be destined to stay here full time. There’s plenty of snaps to be had, but some of those players have to step up to earn them.
Watch this interesting storyline: Joyner fits here because this team needs someone to step in, and he has a lot of raw talent.
Tight ends
If the receiver spot is mostly questions, this is a grand unknown. The only proven talent, Nick Muse, is out after an ACL procedure. The team was woefully thin here last season, and two redshirt freshmen (Traevon Kenion, KeShawn Toney) and one lightly-used veteran (Will Register) comprise the only healthy scholarship options at the position this spring with history at the spot. The staff also moved former four-star wide receiver Keveon Mullins to tight end. The coaches liked Toney coming out of the season and played him more than Kenion, who was a higher-rated talent but also missed most of the offseason practices last year. This is a position that has produced contributors from walk-on spots, so that might also be worth watching.
Watch this interesting storyline: Mullins probably becomes the most intriguing player after he went from blue-chip recruit to afterthought last season. He has a build similar to former tight end Kiel Pollard.
Offensive line
The question here starts at center and then jumps to the outside. With Donell Stanely as the only departing starter, the battle for his backup spot at the moment appears to be between Hank Manos, who was benched after a poor opening game, and Vincent Murphy, who redshirted last season. It can’t be ruled out that the team might move one of its guards over to get more size and power. On the outside, Dylan Wonnum seems destined to start on one side or the other. The team will likely have a pair of second-year players, Jaylen Nichols and Jakai Moore, duking it out with 6-foot-6, 337-pound junior college addition Jazston Turnetine, an All-American on that level. All three of those guys have good potential, but it remains to be seen which is the most finished product.
Watch this interesting storyline: The center spot features two young guys, one of which had trouble with his first try as a starter.
This story was originally published February 19, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
