3 key questions for South Carolina QBs, starting with Hilinski’s next step
The State is previewing the 2020 South Carolina football team by position. Today we’re looking at the quarterbacks.
Key departures: Jake Bentley
Projected depth chart: Ryan Hilinski, Collin Hill, Luke Doty, Jay Urich
What is Ryan Hilinski’s next step?
Ryan Hilinski showed flashes in 2019. He had a dime of a pass against Alabama and what proved to be the most crucial play of an upset win against Georgia. But overall, Year 1 featured plenty of freshman struggles, especially as injuries started robbing him of playmakers. He has a lot of talent, but Year 2 jumps can vary wildly — just ask Jake Bentley. South Carolina’s fortunes in 2020 could well rest on his ability to arrive in September as a top-half-of-the-SEC quarterback.
Can Hill or Doty make some noise?
When he committed as a grad transfer from Colorado State, Collin Hill said he wasn’t coming to Columbia just to be a backup. He wasn’t able to participate in the abbreviated spring practice because of an injury. With the coronavirus shutdown, however, his edge knowing Mike Bobo’s offense is even more pronounced. That same factor will make it worlds harder for Luke Doty to catch up unless he’s transcendent right off the bat. That said, Doty has the blend of talent and intangibles that one can’t rule it out.
Will the support be there?
Through the offseason, Will Muschamp said over and over again the Gamecocks fell short in terms of supporting Hilinski as a freshman quarterback. Until the season starts, questions will again linger on that front. In terms of pass catchers, the team has two modestly proven options — Shi Smith and Nick Muse — and a bushel of question marks. Running back is a near-complete mystery. No matter who ends up back there, he’ll need the firepower to materialize.
2020 South Carolina football schedule
Sept. 5 vs. Coastal Carolina
Sept. 12 vs. East Carolina
Sept. 19 vs. Missouri
Sept. 26 at Kentucky
Oct. 3 at Florida
Oct. 10 vs. Tennessee
Oct. 24 vs. Texas A&M
Oct. 31 at Vanderbilt
Nov. 7 Georgia
Nov. 14 at LSU
Nov. 21 vs. Wofford
Nov. 28 at Clemson
This story was originally published June 29, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
