Gamecocks look for answers: Five camp story lines
QB Competition
All eyes will be on Connor Mitch, the 6-foot-3, 211-pound sophomore from Raleigh, starting on Day 1. Mitch has not been named the starter (and might not be), but he’ll likely get the first repetition of camp with the No. 1 unit. If he has carried into fall camp the confidence he showed during the spring, he’ll likely win the starting job. If he stumbles, 6-foot-1, 203-pound junior walk-on Perry Orth and 6-foot-4, 210-pound freshman Michael Scarnecchia will get a chance. Freshman Lorenzo Nunez (6-3, 210) will practice with the team for the first time and likely will find some playing time in the offensive backfield in some capacity.
Hoke’s heroes
First-year co-defensive coordinator Jon Hoke made a good impression during spring practice, but the proximity of the season will ramp up the pressure on the defensive revival this month. South Carolina has to reinvent a defense that finished at or near the bottom of every major statistical category in the league (and many in the nation), and it has to do it without any household names in the starting lineup. No Gamecocks defender was picked first-, second- or third-team preseason All-SEC when media members who cover the league voted last month. The emphasis in the spring was getting to know each other. Now the coaches have to start filling out a starting lineup.
Issues up front
South Carolina has plenty of experienced bodies on the offensive line if everyone is healthy. Senior Brandon Shell, who has started a team-high 36 games, sat out spring practice with a shoulder injury but will fully participate during fall camp and is trying to move from right tackle to left tackle this season. Senior Mike Matulis, who could play tackle or guard, is giving it one last chance after missing most of the past three seasons due to shoulder and knee injuries. Alan Knott will be trying to hold off Cody Waldrop at center, and Mason Zandi and Donell Stanley will be looking to break into the rotation somewhere. Senior Will Sport is penciled in at right guard.
Defense back rotation
Coach Steve Spurrier mentioned secondary specifically last week when he talked about how many starting jobs will be up for grabs this preseason. Cornerbacks Chris Lammons and Rico McWilliams and safeties Chris Moody and Jordan Diggs are listed as the starters heading into practice, but there are a lot of moving parts, particularly with Kansas transfer Isaiah Johnson. Johnson (6-1, 210) started 24 games for the Jayhawks and was named the Big 12’s Newcomer of the Year in 2013. Young cornerbacks Wesley Green and Al Harris Jr. also could move up the depth chart in the next month.
Open and Shut
The Gamecocks opened most of their preseason practices last year but are closing things up this year. The reason has more to do with space on the sidelines at the new practice fields than keeping secrets, Spurrier indicated last week, but there’s also the feel that South Carolina is circling the wagons a little. Led by their coach, the Gamecocks are using the many questions people are asking about them as a rallying cry heading into camp. After three straight 11-win seasons, South Carolina fell to 7-6 last year. Many observers think they will stay around that level. Many of the Gamecocks think they’ll get back to their previous form. Scrimmages at Williams-Brice Stadium are expected to remain open to the public.
This story was originally published August 2, 2015 at 8:56 PM.