South Carolina football: areas where the team will improve, decline in ’21

Steps back

While the Gamecocks will improve in some areas, they’re guaranteed to take a step back in others. Can a potent run game keep the pace from last year? Will a young defense experience growing pains?

Rush TDs

We don’t expect the rushing output to slow down much with Kevin Harris returning in the backfield. Luke Doty will add another capable runner at quarterback, and the Gamecocks will finally get to see MarShawn Lloyd in action.

While the yard per game average may not take a hit, we do think we’ll see a dip in number of rushing touchdowns. South Carolina averaged 2.1 rushing TDs a game last year, totaling 21 scores on the ground. Harris was responsible for 15 of those.

Opposing defenses are going to key in on the South Carolina rushing attack considering that the Gamecocks will be starting a youngster under center and have an unproven receiving corps. The run game should still be effective, but expect South Carolina to find options in play action when they get down close to the goal line.

Pass defense

South Carolina is young in the secondary. The team lost its top five contributors from last year’s squad, and will be piecing together a ragtag bunch of transfers and underclassmen on the back end of the defense.

With Jaycee Horn, Israel Mukuamu, John Dixon, Jammie Robinson, and Shilo Sanders roaming the defensive backfield, the Gamecocks held opponents to just 256 yards a game. None of those players are a part of the program any longer, putting a ton of pressure what will be a unit of first time starters.

While the Gamecocks might be strong up front, they are sure to allow big plays in the pass game. Expect this number to grow, but hopefully the defense will be able to combat the yardage allowed with opportunistic turnovers.