South Carolina sets depth chart for opening football game against UNC

The South Carolina Gamecocks have issued an official depth chart for the 2023 season and the opening game against the UNC Tar Heels.

Observations

▪ Six true freshmen are in the two-deep to start the season: Nyck Harbor and Markee Anderson on offense, with Desmond Umeozulu, Pup Howard, Judge Collier and Jalon Kilgore on defense.

▪ South Carolina listed a few positions as undecided, including both tackle spots: transfers Sidney Fugar and Jaxon Hughes at one side, with Cason Henry or Tyshawn Wannamaker at the other. ... It looks like the team is keeping its options open on both ends of the defensive line, with Tyreek Johnson, Jatius Geer and Terrell Dawkins options to start at defensive end and Jordan Strachan, Bryan Thomas Jr. and Desmond Umeozulu battling at the edge (or outside linebacker) spot.

The depth chart

——OFFENSE——

• QB: Spencer Rattler (Luke Doty)

• RB: Dakereon Joyner (Juju McDowell)

• TE: Trey Knox (Nick Elksnis)

• TE: Josh Simon (Nick Elksnis)

• WR: Antwane Wells (Nyck Harbor)

• WR: Ahmarean Brown (Eddie Lewis)

• WR: Xavier Legette (O’Mega Blake)

• OT: Sidney Fugar —OR— Jaxon Hughes

• OT: Cason Henry —OR— Tyshawn Wannamaker

• OG: Jakai Moore (Trai Jones)

• OG: Nick Gargiulo (Markee Anderson)

• OC: Vershon Lee (Grayson Mains)

——DEFENSE——

• DE: Tyreek Johnson —OR— Jatius Geer —OR—Terrell Dawkins

• OLB/Edge: Jordan Strachan —OR— Bryan Thomas Jr. —OR— Desmond Umeozulu

• DT: Tonka Hemingway (T.J. Sanders)

• DT: Alex Huntley (Nick Barrett)

• MLB: Stone Blanton (Pup Howard)

• WLB: Debo Williams (Mo Kaba)

• NICK: Keenan Nelson Jr. (David Spaulding)

• CB1: Marcellas Dial (Emory Floyd)

• CB2: O’Donnell Fortune (Judge Collier)

• SS: Nick Emmanwori (King-Demenian Ford)

• FS: DQ Smith (Jalon Kilgore)

——SPECIAL TEAMS——

• PK: Mitch Jeter (Alex Herrera)

• P: Kai Kroeger (Alex Herrera)

• LSN: Hunter Rogers (Cole Rasmussen)

• H: Kai Kroeger (William Joyce)

• KOR: Xavier Legette (Dakereon Joyner —OR— Juju McDowell)

• PR: Ahmarean Brown (Eddie Lewis)

This story was originally published August 28, 2023 at 12:42 PM.

Dwayne McLemore

The State

803-771-8687

Director of Sports at The State in Columbia, South Carolina. A University of South Carolina Class of 1997 graduate who joined The State in October 2007. I’m part of the APSE award-winning Sports staff that includes our work on the South Carolina Gamecocks and Clemson Tigers. Previously worked for The (Myrtle Beach) Sun News and Gaston (North Carolina) Gazette.