Biggest questions entering week two of camp
South Carolina is grinding through camp right now, and entering a very pivotal week with kickoff quickly approaching.
The Gamecocks are in the midst of their second full week of practice. That includes five practices (Monday through Friday) and is capped with the second and final scrimmage of the preseason.
It’s really the last big push for guys to solidify roles early in the season with North Carolina prep looming sometime next week. With that happening, let’s look at a few big questions still out there.
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Who steps up with Juice Wells banged up?
Shane Beamer was optimistic Wells–dealing with an injury–will be back for the Gamecocks’ opener against North Carolina. But in the meantime with Wells sidelined it gives younger players a chance to take reps with the first team.
There are two guys seemingly entrenched as starters right now: Xavier Legette and Ahmarean Brown. But with Wells out of practice, who starts working with the first team?
O’Mega Blake is the odds-on favorite to shoulder the bulk of those reps with Nyck Harbor second in line. Blake has gotten some good reviews so far, and even made a nice play in Saturday’s scrimmage.
With this really the last week of training camp, finding out options with Wells out is going to be a big piece to practice this week.
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Can the turnover trend continue?
Outside of one day in training camp, Beamer mentioned the offense doing better protecting the ball as an offense. Through the first five practices, Beamer said, South Carolina had cut its turnovers in team periods in half compared to the same spot in 2021 and 2022.
There was at least one tipped pass interception in the scrimmage but not many other turnovers from the offensive side of things. Protecting the ball is arguably the biggest bugaboo for the Gamecocks offensively in 2023.
How South Carolina either continues to improve or stays consistent there this second week is going to be interesting to track.
Can the Gamecocks build depth in the trenches?
One thing Beamer mentioned about South Carolina in the scrimmage was the younger players struggling to sustain during long drives. That’s to be expected with as many freshmen as the Gamecocks are going to have in the two-deep on both lines.
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This second full week of camp is going to be very important for South Carolina. They need to find the right guys to round out the top eight on the offensive line. Then figure out the rotation at both defensive tackle and end this season.
Who wins the starting right tackle job?
Plenty of position battles are still going on in the last push through camp. Most battles should be close to settled after Saturday’s scrimmage, and none bigger right now than that right tackle job.
It’s probably the lone starting spot up for grabs offensively when everyone is healthy, a battle right now with incumbent Tyshawn Wannamaker and Sidney Fugar. Cason Henry–who is working his way back from injury–could factor in when 100 percent healthy.
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Lonnie Teasley would almost assuredly like to have a set plan for the right tackle job coming out of this week. Which makes the next few practices integral.
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