South Carolina College Football Preview, Best Players, Top Transfers, Season Prediction, Win Total 2024

South Carolina Gamecocks Preview 2024

It’s not a plus when you’re known for your wild inconsistencies.

Injuries had a little bit to do with it as the South Carolina offense managed 37 points or more five times last season, and 20 or fewer seven times.

The 2022 version couldn’t score against Florida and Missouri teams that finished with losing seasons, and then hung 63 on Tennessee. The defense that was non-existent in 2020 was far better in Shane Beamer’s first season in 2021 and early in 2022, fell off the map over the second half of the year, and didn’t show up until it was too late in 2023.

All of that is fine as long as the team is winning.

It’s not for a lack of trying. Beamer and his staff put together some nice recruiting classes, and they’re doing a good job in the transfer portal. Now they need a little bit of luck.

They need the lines to stay healthy, but that’s where the improved depth comes in. The portal beefed up the offensive front and the defensive front six/seven - depending on the alignment.

The quarterback depth chart has veterans and a young potential star, the running backs are experienced talents, and the secondary might be sneaky-great if it gets more help from the pass rush.

The fan base is always there, the coaching is fine, and for the first time since 2013, South Carolina football is overdue for a big year when it all comes together.

But to go back to the original theme …

NOTE: The previews were published early this summer. We tried to catch the changes, but if we missed anything, please let us know at @ColFootballNews and we'll fix it right away.

South Carolina Preview 2024: Offense

- Let’s just say the offense was a tad inconsistent. The explosion and fun at the end of 2022 wasn’t there against the good teams, the third down conversions were lacking, and the running game was a rumor partly because there were so many sacks allowed. So …

- The offensive line has to be much, much better. Crushed by injuries, the Gamecocks were never able to find a groove up front, and it showed. The transfer portal is playing a big role here, and on the plus side to all the problems of 2023, the front five gets back a slew of veterans who either saw meaningful time last season or return from injuries.

It also helps that the running backs are now in place. Raheim Sanders was banged up last season for Arkansas, but he was massive in 2022. Oscar Adaway was a nice back for North Texas over the last few years.

- The quarterback situation has to be locked down. LaNorris Sellers has the talent to be a dual-threat playmaker, but Auburn transfer Robby Ashford and former Oklahoma and Pitt option Davis Beville will get his chances.

Can the receiving corps help the cause? Xavier Legette is a Carolina Panther, Antwane Wells left tor Ole Miss, and TE Trey Knox is a Minnesota Viking.

There’s young talent in the corps, and the transfer combination of Jared Brown (Coastal Carolina), and Ahmari Huggins-Bruce (Louisville) are experienced.

South Carolina Preview 2024: Defense

- The defense wasn’t good enough. There wasn’t enough of a pass rush, which made life harder for a strong-tacking secondary that got picked apart in big games, and overall there simply weren’t enough stops.

That’s where the transfer portal kicks in with Gilber Edmond (Florida State) and Kyle Kennard (Georgia Tech) to boost up the plays behind the line.

The tackle rotation has the potential to be a strength. TJ Sanders was the team’s best interior pass rusher working behind a decent combination of Tonka Hemingway and Alex Huntley.

- LB Debo Williams didn’t make every tackle, but it seemed like he tried to. He led the team with 113 tackles, Bam Martin-Scott should be a good running mate on the outside, and Charlotte transfer Demetrius Knight is a great all-around factor who’ll need to find a role right away.

- The secondary got a bit of a bad rap. The safeties can hit, and the stats were strong mainly because they were forced to make too many plays.

There’s more than enough experience and talent for all three of the safety spots - Jalen Kilgore has a world of upside - and the veteran corners will be better with more help from the pass rush.

South Carolina Key To The Season

Keep opposing defenses from jumping on the quarterback’s head.
In 2016, South Carolina allowed 41 sacks in a 6-7 season. The 2017 O line allowed 29, and the team went 9-4.

The Gamecock front five has been awful-to-totally miserable in pass protection over the last ten seasons, giving up a whopping 103 over the last three years with 41 allowed in 2023 and 92 tackles for loss. If that improves just a little bit, South Carolina’s record will, too.

South Carolina Key Player

DE Kyle Kennard, Sr.
South Carolina was last in the SEC in sacks and next-to-last in tackles for loss - they need Kennard to bring that production for its D.

The former Georgia Tech edge rusher was one of the team’s most consistent playmakers in the backfield last season. He destroyed Wake Forest with four sacks, and came up with a tackle for loss in each of the last five games.

South Carolina Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss

Top Transfer In: RB Raheim Sanders
The 6-2, 225-pound speed back was a star in the 2022 Arkansas backfield. He ripped off yards in chunks with 1,443 yards and ten scores and caught 28 passes with two touchdowns.

He suffered a shoulder injury and missed most of last year and a chunk of the offseason. If he’s right, he’ll be a huge boost to the Gamecock rushing attack.

Speaking of being banged up last season …

Top Transfer Out: WR Antwane Wells
The top receiver in 2022 was hurt for most of last year and only made three grabs. He would’ve been a key volume receiver for the Gamecocks, but now he’ll be a top inside target for Ole Miss.

South Carolina Key Game

at Kentucky, Sept. 7
Last year’s team struggled early on and couldn’t rally back. However, it beat Kentucky 17-14 to keep bowl hopes alive, only to lose to Clemson the following week.

The Gamecocks have been okay against the Cats, winning the last two meetings and three of the last five. This year it’s the SEC opener. Lose, and uh oh. The next four SEC games are LSU, Ole Miss, at Alabama, and at Oklahoma.

South Carolina 10 Best Players

1. Debo Williams, LB Sr.
2. Tonka Hemingway, DT Sr.
3. Jalon Kilgore, S Soph.
4. TJ Sanders, DT Jr.
5. Raheim Sanders, RB Sr.
6. Nick Emmanwori, S Jr.
7. Alex Huntley, DT Sr.
8. DQ Smith, S Jr.
9. Kyle Kennard, DE Sr.
10. LaNorris Sellers QB RFr.

South Carolina 2023 Fun Stats

- Sacks: Opponents 41 for 298 yards, South Carolina 21 for 118 yards

- Penalties: South Carolina 86 for 666 yards, Opponents 67 for 530 yards

- 2 Point Conversions: Opponents 1-for-1, South Carolina 0-for-5

South Carolina 2024 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen

The team should be better, but it’ll be a fight to get to six wins and a bowl game.

There’s no Georgia, Texas, or Tennessee to deal with, and dates against LSU, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Missouri are at home, but that still might not be enough.

Beating Old Dominion and Akron won’t be a problem, and getting Wofford and Vanderbilt in November should get to at least four wins. But it’s hardly a lock that the Gamecocks will be favored in any of the other eight games.

They’ll find a way. Maybe it’s an upset over Kentucky on the road, or at home against Texas A&M or Missouri, or maybe they’ll shock Clemson in Death Valley for the second time in three years.

Give the team a bit more credit, though. There’s just enough talent returning to make it a third winning season in the last four years.

Set The South Carolina Win Total At … 6

Likely Wins: Akron, Old Dominion, at Vanderbilt, Wofford

50/50 Games: at Clemson, at Kentucky, LSU, Missouri, Ole Miss, Texas A&M

Likely Losses: at Alabama, at Oklahoma

2024 South Carolina Football Schedule

Aug 31 Old Dominion
Sept 7 at Kentucky
Sept 14 LSU
Sept 21 Akron
Sept 28 OPEN DATE
Oct 5 Ole Miss
Oct 12 at Alabama
Oct 19 at Oklahoma
Oct 26 OPEN DATE
Nov 2 Texas A&M
Nov 9 at Vanderbilt
Nov 16 Missouri
Nov 23 Wofford
Nov 30 at Clemson

Missing: Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Texas