6 days until the Gamecocks play: 6 veterans ready for a (possible) last ride
We’re now six days away from South Carolina football’s season opener against Tennessee, which will mark the beginning of the final season for the 17 or so seniors and graduate students on the Gamecocks’ roster.
Or at least, that’s how it would be in any other year. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the NCAA has already decided to allow all student-athletes who compete this fall an additional year in eligibility — essentially, this season will be a “free pass.” That means seniors can come back, and USC coach Will Muschamp said some players (including kicker Parker White) have already said they want to return in 2021.
Still, whether it’s because of professional opportunity or it’s simply time to move on, this year will likely mark the final season we’ll see some players in a Gamecock uniform. Here are six of those players who have the opportunity to make their last ride with South Carolina a memorable one.
1. Sadarius Hutcherson
Offensive lineman Sadarius Hutcherson’s transformation from weedy prospect to hulking, athletic presence on the interior has been well-documented. At 6-foot-4, 320 pounds, he has the kind of size that could do very well in the NFL. Last season, he shot down the possibility of leaving just a day after the final game against Clemson. This year, he’s moved positions from tackle to guard and is primed to make the leap should he put together a solid campaign protecting QB Collin Hill.
2. Keir Thomas
Defensive tackle Keir Thomas was poised to play a major role for the Gamecocks in 2019, his senior season, before an infection that resulted from ankle surgery cost him the majority of the year. Now he’s back for a fifth year, and the 6-foot-2, 275 pound Miami product will be counted upon to step up in a major way to replace the production of Javon Kinlaw in the center of the defensive line. Should he return to the form that helped him start 23 games as a sophomore and junior, the Gamecocks would certainly be pleased.
3. Shi Smith
Deebo Samuel, Bryan Edwards ... and Shi Smith? The senior wide receiver is hoping to become the latest in a recent run of great Gamecock wideouts who parlayed their success into NFL Draft picks. Smith was known as a blazing-fast runner with strong hands early on his career, rarely dropping a pass while racking up 74 catches and more than 1,000 yards as a freshman and sophomore. His junior year was a bit disappointing as Edwards dominated the passing game and Smith took a step back, but now he’s the undisputed top option in a position group without a lot of experience. That could mean a lot of targets — and yards — coming his way.
4. Sherrod Greene
In a video released by USC’s sports information staff a few weeks ago, linebacker Sherrod Greene explicitly referred to this season as his “last ride.” He didn’t completely rule out of the possibility of coming back another year, but the veteran native of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, has played a lot of football for the Gamecocks. Since appearing in 10 games as a true freshman, he’s recorded 24 starts in 35 games, making 130 tackles in that time. He’s firmly entrenched as Carolina’s starting weak side linebacker, but he’s played the strong side as well.
5. Nick Muse
This will only be Nick Muse’s second season at South Carolina, but this William & Mary transfer tight end stands 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, can run block and has decent hands — exactly in the mold that NFL teams look for. While he had to split snaps and opportunities with Kyle Markway last season and wound up tearing his ACL late in the year, Muse is now clearly the team’s best option, and he’s in a system under new offensive coordinator Mike Bobo that’s widely expected to utilize tight ends more frequently. He could wind up racking impressive numbers as QB Collin Hill’s safety valve.
6. Jabari Ellis
The other half of South Carolina’s starting defensive tackle duo alongside Keir Thomas, Jabari Ellis doesn’t have quite as much experience after initially going to junior college and transferring to USC in 2018. Now in his third year with the program, however, he’s earned praise from the coaching staff and is poised to play ahead of highly-rated former recruits like Zacch Pickens and Rick Sandidge. After making just 13 tackles and one sack in 12 career games at USC, he’s poised for a breakout season to potentially cap his career in Columbia.
This story was originally published September 20, 2020 at 10:11 AM.
