Revisiting South Carolina’s pre-spring questions
South Carolina entered spring practice, like most teams around the country, with questions. And like most programs, the Gamecocks took big steps during the 14 practices (plus one spring game) towards answering some of them, while others remain unresolved.
As summer strength and conditioning begins, we take a look back at the pre-spring questions with an update on how far along South Carolina is in attempting to answer them.
Who replaces Spencer Rattler at QB?
This one is easy.
The Gamecocks haven’t officially named a starter for the opener against Old Dominion but Shane Beamer has been clear and deliberate about where things stand.
LaNorris Sellers took the first snap of the spring, won offensive MVP honors during it, and then was named the “current” starter after — with the caveat that it didn’t mean the battle was over at the time.
While we always believed, and said as much on GamecockCentral, that Sellers would ultimately be the guy, the official situation has gone from being a “wide open” battle to Sellers being considered the current starter, a clear sign of progress in answering that question.
Essentially, if Sellers continues to do what he’s done all year to this point, and there’s no reason to believe he won’t, then he’ll be the Gamecocks’ starter this fall with Robby Ashford serving as his backup.
Can Gamecocks find answers at WR?
This one remains incomplete.
Beamer has said twice at recent Welcome Home events that if you asked him to name who the Top 6 wide receivers would be this year that he wouldn’t yet be able to do so. Beamer does, however, like the balance and competition in the room and thinks there are some various skillsets that can ultimately result in a complete room.
Is there an Xavier Legette among the bunch? That seems unlikely but the hope is the Gamecocks can take a Moneyball approach where a deeper, more balanced room replaces his production as a group.
South Carolina took five transfers this offseason at the position — three prior to the spring and two after — a clear sign of how much they felt they needed to revamp the group.
Among the transfers who were in for the spring, former Miami (Oh.) leading receiver Gage Larvadain created the most buzz this spring and seems in line to be a starter. Freshman Mazeo Bennett also impressed.
Nevada transfer Dalevon Campbell, who just joined the program this week, could be a wildcard in that he is 6-foot-4 and can run. He put up solid numbers at his last stop with less-than-stellar QB play.
Another wildcard is, how much progress can Nyckoles Harbor make this offseason if he ultimately runs in the Olympics?
Who’s the CB opposite O’Donnell Fortune?
This writer admittedly thought South Carolina needed to go transfer portal searching for another cornerback prior to the spring but I’ve changed my tune on that thought.
While it’s still not set who might be the starter opposite O’Donnell Fortune this fall, the play of several guys this spring brings some confidence that someone out of the group will be ready to do so while the rest will provide key depth.
Judge Collier, who played as Carolina’s third corner as a true freshman last season, entered the spring as the perceived favorite. But he received a big push from Emory Floyd and Vicari Swain, who seem much improved.
If the staff decides to go with steady and more experienced, then Collier would be the answer. But Swain is pound for pound one of the best athletes on the team and could provide more game-changing ability.
The versatility David Spaulding, who has dealt with injuries for much of his career, could play any of the three secondary spots, including cornerback.
Freshman four-star “athlete” Jalewis Solomon is also slated to compete at cornerback, though there’s a depth need at nickel and Solomon could fit there.
This position has quietly become one that could be a positive surprise.
What happens on the offensive line?
South Carolina found some potential answers in that transfer newcomers Torricelli Simpkins III and Kamaar Bell and true freshman Josiah Thompson all look like they can help when combined with the several veterans Carolina returns.
But the search for that always-important “top eight” that coaches reference is ongoing as the staff attempts to also figure out which combination allows the best five to get on the field.
Not to put too much on the shoulders of a true freshman but whether or not the five-star from Dillon is ready to man the left tackle spot in his first year may be the biggest domino affecting the rest of the line, as it would potentially allow Tree Balalade to slide to another position.
As of right his moment, it would appear Babalade is the starter at left tackle as he battles Thompson and Jakai Moore, though Moore is more of a swing player who can play guard or tackle. Moore would definitely be in that “top eight” and is a key factor due to his versatility.
Like Moore, Vershon Lee has emerged as a leader among the group and Lee is penciled in at the starting center spot, though he can play elsewhere too. Cason Henry, a vocal leader who brings intensity to the field, seems to have quietly penciled his name in at right tackle.
Simpkins and Bell took first-team reps at times at guard and will either be starters or key reserves. Trovon Baugh, who started eight games as a true freshman last year, is also pushing to once again start at guard.
The two wildcards here are the aforementioned Thompson and redshirt freshman Markee Anderson. Thompson is incredibly talented but will need to have a great summer in the strength program to get bigger and stronger.
Anderson, a former highly recruited lineman from Dorman, was largely considered one of the Gamecocks most talented players up front last year but a knee injury kept him from debuting then and injuries slowed him this spring as well.
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