What South Carolina positions have most question marks heading into season?
Few schools enter the 2025 season in a more enviable position than South Carolina.
The Gamecocks are coming off a 9-4 campaign. Their coach, Shane Beamer, is committed to building a winner in Columbia. And he was given the resources to bring back nearly his entire staff. (Only offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains left, taking the App State head coaching job.)
South Carolina might have the best quarterback in the SEC with LaNorris Sellers. In Dylan Stewart, USC might have the best defensive player in the nation.
As far as the big stuff, South Carolina is sitting pretty. There are no cracks in the foundation.
But what position groups are questions for South Carolina?
Running back? If the NCAA doesn’t approve Rahsul Faison’s waiver — absolutely. But that’s a hypothetical for a different story.
Wide receivers? Sure they’re young and unproven, but there’s so much new talent in the room that it’s hard to think USC’s wideouts will regress in 2025.
So here are four position groups that feel like more of question marks heading into the new season.
Offensive line
Sure, the Gamecocks return left tackle Josiah Thompson and right tackle Cason Henry. But they’re forced to replace the entire interior of the line and are likely to rely, at least a little, on transfers. That might not be the worst thing in the world considering transfer guard Torricelli Simpkins III was arguably USC’s best O-lineman last year.
Beamer has already said Troy transfer Boaz Stanley is the favorite to start at center. But the guard spots are up for grabs. Maybe other transfers like Nick Sharpe (Wake Forest) or Rodney Newsome Jr. (Western Kentucky) take the jobs. Maybe returners like Tree Babalade or Trovon Baugh make a jump and earn starting jobs.
But, until we see it, there’s plenty of uncertainty about how well the Gamecocks will protect Sellers.
Linebacker
By all accounts, sophomore linebacker Fred Johnson is not a question mark. Per his coaches and teammates, he’s the real deal.
But South Carolina’s defense often includes three linebackers and, well, its top three linebackers from last year all graduated. So the entire position group is new and even Johnson, who we think is going to be the star, hasn’t taken many collegiate snaps at linebacker.
Which means there’s gonna be new faces. Maybe transfers Justin Okoronkwo (Alabama) or Shawn Murphy (Florida State) can make an immediate impact, but there’s a lot to learn in a short amount of time.
Defensive line
Another position that was just decimated this offseason. Arguably South Carolina’s top four defensive linemen from last season are gone, leaving a bunch of older guys who don’t have much experience being top dogs in the trenches.
In other words: South Carolina is relying on a number of guys — Monkell Goodwine, Nick Barrett, Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy — to make a massive jump late in their career. Is it possible? Sure. But it’s asking a lot.
Kicker
A year after South Carolina lost one — maybe two — kickers, the Gamecocks decided, Nah, let’s not make it a priority to snag a veteran kicker out of the transfer portal.
So, once again, the Gamecocks will enter a season trotting out someone who’s never attempted a collegiate field goal. Perhaps that person is redshirt freshman Mason Love — who’s also expected to be the punter — or true freshman Max Kelley, or one of the walk-on options.
In any case, it’s quite the gamble.
25 QUESTIONS FOR THE 2025 SEASON:
No. 25 — What South Carolina positions have the most question marks heading into season?
No. 24 — A Gamecocks victory over Va. Tech would be biggest season-opening win since when?
No. 23 — How will South Carolina’s QB room shake out in 2025 and beyond?
No. 22 — If USC beat Bama or LSU in ’24, would national conversation be different right now?
No. 21 — Can the Gamecocks’ offensive line take a step forward in 2025?
No. 20 — What former South Carolina football player will get his jersey retired next?
No. 19 — Can South Carolina get to the LSU game undefeated?
No. 18 — Will Fred Johnson be South Carolina’s next great LB?
No. 17 — What’s the most important stretch in USC’s 2025 schedule?
No. 16 — Can South Carolina’s defense stay elite despite all its roster turnover?
No. 15 — What South Carolina school records could be broken in 2025?
No. 14 — What’s the ceiling for USC’s running backs, with or without Rahsul Faison?
No. 13 — Can South Carolina’s special teams get back to Beamer Ball standard?
No. 12 — Have Gamecocks found right balance of high school football talent, transfers?
No. 11 — How will Shane Beamer go viral this year with South Carolina?
No. 10 — Is South Carolina too young at wide receiver?
No. 9 — Is this South Carolina’s easiest schedule in the Shane Beamer era?
No. 8 — Will there be noticeable changes in Mike Shula’s offense at South Carolina?
No. 7 — Can South Carolina football stay relatively healthy again in 2025?
No. 6 — Is this the last year for Williams-Brice Stadium as we know it?
No. 5 — What does a path to the playoff look like for South Carolina?
No. 4 — What happens if South Carolina football is no longer an underdog?
No. 3 — How would a 10-win season in 2025 shape Shane Beamer’s legacy in Columbia?
No. 2 — Can Dylan Stewart have a better season than Jadeveon Clowney did in 2012?
No. 1 — Can LaNorris Sellers become the best QB in South Carolina history?
This story was originally published June 23, 2025 at 8:20 AM.
