How we think USC offense’s depth chart will look for Beamer’s first spring practices

South Carolina will soon kick off what should be one of the most hotly anticipated spring practice seasons in recent memory. The Gamecocks have a new head coach in Shane Beamer and are coming off back-to-back eight-loss seasons, and fans are eager to see how Beamer’s return to USC starts. Spring practice begins Saturday for the Gamecocks, with the spring game on April 24.

College football coaches will say all these positions are open. They’ll say players can always compete their way into a bigger role, and that it’s so early.

But South Carolina’s football program will have to send out one group of players first when spring practice starts, then a second team. Beamer’s staff is already running the team through workouts, so it means the pieces of a depth chart are likely already in place.

And that makes it as good a time as any to guess what it might look like, starting with the offense.

Quarterback

Starter: Luke Doty

Doty ended 2020 as the starter. He’s the lone returner and a leader on the team. Needless to say, he starts here. The questions will center on how he picks up the new offense and what the transfer behind him can bring. In limited action, Doty showed flashes of improvisational skill, speed as a runner and a little moxie, as he was put into a near-impossible situation. Now he’ll get to work with new offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield to try to translate that talent into something more.

Backups: Jason Brown, Colten Gauthier

Brown is the interesting wildcard in all this. He’s a bit of a tank at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds. He can sling it with an unusual throwing motion. He can run a little bit. He put up good numbers at a much lower level of football. He has the ability to push Doty and — very possibly — take the starting job. Gauthier boasts a strong arm but will likely need a bit of seasoning before being too much of a factor in any QB battle.

Running back

Starters: Kevin Harris, MarShawn Lloyd

The choice here is probably a little bit of a cop-out because, in the end, South Carolina can only start one running back. But in this case, if everyone was healthy and available, these two would likely be splitting first-team reps. Harris was one of the most productive rushers in the country last year, averaging 113.8 yards per game with 16 total touchdowns. Lloyd is still working back from his torn ACL, but his talent level is among the top two or three players on the roster. The question is how much the second-year player from the Washington, D.C. area is able to get into the action this spring.

Backups: ZaQuandre White, Rashad Amos

White is intriguing because he has a high ceiling, but ball security issues often kept him off the field last year. If nothing else, he is an ace special-teamer and a player so willing to contribute that he chipped in on defense when asked. Amos is a sturdy young back with some pop. It remains to be seen what role he can round into, but the ability is there. Incoming freshman Caleb McDowell is not yet on campus.

Wide receiver

Starters: Ahmarean Brown, E.J. Jenkins, Jalen Brooks

This spot is flush with new faces after a disappointing 2020 season. Ahmarean Brown has been a productive major-conference player before, having put up good numbers his freshman year at Georgia Tech. He steps in immediately in the slot. Jenkins is massive, quick and has impressed folks since arriving on campus as a transfer from a lower level. Brooks struggled mightily after suddenly getting his eligibility four games into last season. But he showed a good bit of ability at practice going against the likes of Jaycee Horn. If Brooks can get that to translate, he’ll have a good chance to start. Don’t be surprised if Jenkins gets a little work on the inside, almost like a slot tight end, or spends a good bit of time as a lone receiver on one side of the field.

Top backups: Dakereon Joyner, Josh Vann, Xavier Legette, Rico Powers, Ger-Cari Caldwell

This group, at this point, is a collection of interesting pieces, almost all of whom were around last year but not able to step into the talent vacuum at the position. Legette is the player the old staff was most high on, before injuries and drops cut things short. Joyner had a few moments in Year 1 as a receiver. Vann has talent but hasn’t harnessed it, while Powers and Caldwell also have potential. The chances will be there, but it’s hard to guess which players will step up to take them.

Tight end

Starter: Nick Muse

He was a steady presence last year, although a spate of drops limited his effectiveness. Still, he’s a bigger body who put up 425 yards on 30 catches last season. The Gamecocks have to develop some depth at the position, but he’s a solid first piece.

Top backups: Keveon Mullins, Jaheim Bell, Eric Shaw

Mullins was a player who was probably the most advanced last year, a former big receiver who broke three big plays and then suffered an ankle injury. Bell showed flashes when healthy, and brings some solid size and pop to the mix. Shaw is tough enough the staff had him play a little defense last season, but he appears to be back on the offensive side. This spot is going to be about development for new position coach Erik Kimrey. There’s certainly raw ability, but tight end, both on the blocking and receiving ends, requires more than just that.

Offensive line

Jazston Turnetine, Jovaughn Gwyn, Eric Douglas, Jordan Rhodes, Dylan Wonnum

The Gamecocks bring back a lot in terms of experience with four starters back. The only departure is guard Sadarius Hutcherson, and Rhodes has nearly a year worth of starting experience (he also got some work at defensive tackle last year and looked good). The looming question is can the athletic group leverage its ability more than it did last season? The tackles struggled with conditioning last season, and that impacted their play. New line coach Greg Adkins should be a different kind of voice, and this top group is going to get pushed by the backups.

Top backups: Jaylen Nichols, Jakai Moore, Vincent Murphy, Vershon Lee, Tyshawn Wannamaker

The depth here is surprisingly seasoned, all things considered. Nichols and Moore have a few starts under their belts. Lee got some snaps last season. Where players line up remains to be seen. Moore and Lee both have some potential at guard or tackle. Wannamaker is a big guy who has shown a few things. This backup group does have a fair amount of potential, and there could be chances if the starters don’t solidify their consistency.