2 days until the Gamecocks play: 2 players poised to make a big step in 2020
The Gamecocks have holes to fill.
When a team loses high-quality NFL talent like Javon Kinlaw and Deebo Samuel, they aren’t always easy to replace.
For South Carolina football to compete this year against a grueling Southeastern Conference slate, it will need a handful of players to make developmental jumps and become stars themselves. Here’s a look at two Gamecocks who have the potential to do just that.
1. Shi Smith
The speedy 5-foot-10, 190-pound receiver has played a complementary role for the Gamecocks in the last couple of seasons, with the likes of Samuel and recent NFL draftee Bryan Edwards playing ahead of him. But this season the senior Smith is clearly the most experienced receiver in the room, boasting 117 career receptions for 1,571 yards.
While not known as a loud presence, Smith is expected to provide leadership and will likely be a frequent target for new quarterback Collin Hill as the rest of the inexperienced receiving group takes shape in the early season. With offensive coordinator Mike Bobo looking to add explosiveness to the offense, Smith could be a key cog that is used all over the field.
“I think Shi’s had a really good camp,” head coach Will Muschamp said Tuesday. “He’s done a lot of explosive plays throughout camp. He’s a very difficult guy to cover, whether he’s lined up outside or in the slot.”
2. Zacch Pickens
Last year was never going to be easy for Pickens. Even though he came to Columbia as a five-star recruit and the No. 8 player in the country, playing defensive tackle as a freshman in the SEC is a challenging task for anyone — and especially for someone who played defensive end in high school. But Pickens had the opportunity to learn the position behind Kinlaw and Kobe Smith in Year 1, and it’s likely only a matter of time before the college game clicks for the 6-foot-3, 300-pound talent.
The Gamecocks have worked to cultivate a little more aggressiveness in Pickens’ game, with new defensive line coach Tracy Rocker trying to “bring the dog out” of Pickens. By all accounts, Pickens had a strong training camp and should be more of a factor this season.
“I’ve noticed I’m doing everything faster,” Pickens said earlier in camp. “I know the plays faster. When I was a freshman, it was a struggle getting the plays. Now I’m learning it. I’m playing a little bit faster, and coach is depending on me, really. He’s depending on all of us.”
This story was originally published September 24, 2020 at 8:22 AM.
