South Carolina Football: State of the Program
By Jacob Elsey
WHAT’S BACK
Coaching
Will Muschamp returns for his fifth season in Columbia, coming off a 4-8 campaign in ’19. Over his first four seasons, the Gamecocks have gone 26-25 (15-17), making three bowl appearances. His teams have finished anywhere from second to fifth in the SEC East.
Defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson is also back, after coaching up a unit that finished 53rd in points allowed last year. Those numbers are a bit skewed as the offense did little to help the defense stay off the field, ranking 104th nationally in points scored. On paper, this year’s squad looks like Robinson’s best since his arrival to Columbia.
Offense
Starting quarterback Ryan Hilinski returns looking to build on an up-and-down freshman season. The rookie threw for 2,357 yards and 11 touchdowns, and is expected begin the year under center for the Gamecocks.
Wide receiver Shi Smith returns as the team’s No. 1 option on the outside, but little is determined past that point. A lot of options come back, but someone will have to separate themselves as the reliable No. 2. Candidates include OrTre Smith, Josh Vann, Xavier Legette, Dak Joyner, Randrecous Davis, Chad Terrell, and Tyquan Johnson.
The offensive line could be the strongest unit on the offensive side of the ball for the Gamecocks, and possibly one of the SEC’s best. Dylan Wonnum, Sadarius Hutcherson, Jordan Rhodes, Jaylen Nichols, and Jovaughn Gwyn are all back after making starts last season. Hutcherson and Wonnum in particular are NFL prospects that should get a look from scouts at the end of the year.
Defense
The secondary returns almost fully intact, and should be the team’s best unit on either offense or defense. Jaycee Horn and Izzy Mukuamu could be first-round talents entering their junior years. Safety/Nickelback Jammie Robinson is coming off of an All-SEC season as a freshman. RJ Roderick will likely start at the other safety spot. Roderick has been productive but will need to be more consistent in the back end of that secondary.
Middle linebacker and defensive leader, Ernest Jones, is back for a third season, after leading the team with 97 tackles a year ago. The Gamecocks will need to find a replacement for TJ Brunson, but Sherrod Greene, Jahmar Brown, and Damani Staley will battle for the open spot at weakside linebacker.
Kier Thomas, Zacch Pickens, Rick Sandidge, Aaron Sterling, Brad Johnson, JJ Enagbare, and Jabari Ellis return on the defensive line unit. Pickens and Sandidge in particular will be asked to take the next step in the middle of that front four. Sterling, Johnson, and Enagbare should be able to create a solid pass rush, while Thomas is a proven SEC commodity, having been a versatile three-year starter before getting injured last year.