A South Carolina what-if for 2020: The ground-and-pound Gamecocks?
Let’s play this idea out.
When Will Muschamp first arrived at South Carolina, there was a natural level of apprehension when it came to the running game. His Florida teams had relied heavily on their backs. The result had been an offense that was neither aesthetically pleasing nor consistently effective, and the coach himself had promised change.
Four years later, the team and offense face plenty of unknowns, but there’s a scenario where the running game becomes a central piece of whatever the Gamecocks are able to accomplish on that side of the ball.
Through much of the Muschamp tenure at USC, the running game has been inconsistent, with injuries in the backfield and offensive lines wavering between poor and solid. Muschamp teams topped out at 10th in the SEC in yards per carry the past two years, though the 2019 total was boosted heavily by an FCS game.
So why might that change? A few reasons:
▪ MarShawn Lloyd is the most talented back the team has had since at least Mike Davis, maybe farther back than that. The early reports about the freshman have been glowing. It obviously has to translate, but tailback is usually the best spot for a freshman to make an impact.
▪ The rest of the backs offer some options. The staff has been high on Kevin Harris since his first spring, and Deshaun Fenwick seems to be more locked in with his approach. The incoming recruits include the top junior college back in the nation in Zaquandre White and a late riser in freshman Rashad Amos. If one or two of them can deliver consistent performance, that’s a start.
▪ The team went as far as adding a seasoned fullback this offseason in grad transfer Adam Prentice.
▪ The offensive line appears to be in good shape. JUCO transfer Jazston Turnetine needed only a few practices to lock in at left tackle across from Dylan Wonnum. Sadarius Hutcherson can return to his natural role at guard. Center is still a question, but if Jovaughn Gwyn can get snapping down, he’ll give the team strength in the middle. A few things need to go right and one more player needs to step up, but Eric Wolford’s group has the makings of one that can push some folks around. And they might need to.
Compared to the running game, the passing game seemingly has more questions.
Between the second year of Ryan Hilinski and the veteran presence of grad transfer Collin Hill, things should at least be solid at quarterback, though that spot is almost always a bit of a question for every team in the country.
But the pass catchers are notably more uncertain. The team needs Shi Smith to go from decent No. 2 receiver to reliable No. 1. The next two most productive players in terms of their career are OrTre Smith and Josh Vann, neither of whom has proven much in terms of consistency.
The staff likes Xavier Legette, but he was raw last year in his first season and only caught nine passes. Next up would be either freshmen or veterans who haven’t done much.
The tight end position similarly has one somewhat proven name in Nick Muse; Prentice, who has 18 catches across three seasons; and another set of unproven options.
There’s a chance some players step up in a big way, as happened in Muschamp’s first and second seasons. But there’s also a possibility that running game might have to carry the load.
Mike Bobo’s offensive history allows for more downhill and run-centric schemes. They’re not limited to that, but if the talent carries it that way, they’ll get under center and use a fullback more than most squads these days.
For now, it’s just an idea, a possibility if things fall a certain way. But after four years of offenses on the more pass-happy side, maybe things are set to swing the other way.
