Top Players – Offense
- Kevin Harris
- Nick Muse
- Jakai Moore
- Ahmarean Brown
- Dylan Wonnum.
What’s encouraging about this group is the potential of the run game. Harris was far and away the most impactful player on last year’s team, rushing for 1,138 yards and 15 scores. This season, he’s hoping to add to that, while also becoming more of a threat in the passing attack. Harris is talented, but he can’t do it on his own. It’s encouraging to see two offensive linemen on the list as the Gamecocks try to impose their will on opposing defenses.
Muse is a bit of a surprise at No. 2, but maybe he shouldn’t be. He was the team’s second leading receiver in 2020, and was Luke Doty’s top target over the final three games of the year. The senior has an opportunity to have a big season and become the next Carolina tight end to head to the NFL.
Brown is a transfer that averaged more than 18 yards a catch in two seasons with Georgia Tech. He seems to be the most likely replacement for leading receiver Shi Smith, and should give Doty another potent weapon out wide.
Top Players – Defense
- JJ Enagbare
- Jaylan Foster
- Mohamed Kaba
- Zacch Pickens
- Jordan Burch
It’s obvious that the defensive line will be the strength of the unit, having three players listed. Enagbare led the team in sacks a season ago, and has been projected by some to be a first round pick in next year’s draft. Burch and Pickens are both former five-star prospects that will team up with Enagbare to form a ferocious pass rush.
I’m a bit surprised to see Jaylan Foster at No. 2. The former walk-on did finish fourth on the team with 43 tackles last year, but we’re expecting Cam Smith to have more of an impact in the secondary.
Kaba will be the replacement for leading tackler Ernest Jones, taking over in the middle of the South Carolina defense. He’ll see a huge uptick in playing time as a sophomore, and should wind up among the team leaders in takedowns when things are all said and done.
Keys to the season
OFFENSE – Pass Protection
CFN notes that the Gamecocks allowed 27 sacks and 78 tackles for loss last year. While the offensive line unit excelled in the run game, there were struggles and inconsistency in pass protection. The group should get a little bit of help from Doty in 2021, as he can extend plays with his feet, but improvement needs to be shown in order for the Gamecocks to be successful and give some of their talented wideouts a chance.
DEFENSE – Get into the Backfield
As we mentioned earlier, the Gamecock pass rush should be the strongest aspect of the defense. All-SEC end JJ Enagbare is back after a six-sack season in 2020, as are Jordan Burch, Zacch Pickens, Rick Sandidge, Aaron Sterling, and a number of other contributors. South Carolina also signed the nation’s reigning sack leader in Jordan Strachan, who joins the roster after a 10-sack campaign with Georgia State. If the Gamecocks can get to opposing quarterbacks, it will make life much easier for a thin defensive backfield.