South Carolina football: 5 breakout players underutilized by Will Muschamp

South Carolina football players that will play much better under Beamer.

WR Josh Vann

Vann, for some reason, never settled in at wide receiver over his first three seasons with the program. He’s hoping a new staff presents new opportunities.

The senior has tallied just 47 catches in Columbia, and has seen his productivity decrease with each passing season. With the Gamecocks’ passing attack being as bad as it was last year, there’s no reason Vann shouldn’t have gotten a harder look.

The former four-star pass catcher tallied just 10 catches for 88 yards, recording just two multi-catch games. But it looks as though he’ll see more opportunities under coach Beamer and new offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield.

Satterfield pointed to Vann as a player that’s really improved since the Spring, and he appears to be near the top of the depth chart when it comes to the wideout position. South Carolina desperately needs someone to step up in the passing game, and this veteran will certainly have his opportunity to do so.

EDGE Rod Fitten

It’s easy to talk about the offense when looking at players that underperformed under the former coaching staff, but what about a player on defense?

Rod Fitten, a pass rusher on the South Carolina unit, has been flipping between linebacker and end over his first two seasons, but he’s found a home on the edge in his new defensive scheme. Coordinator Clayton White plans to use Fitten in a pass rushing role where he can utilize his speed and size to get to opposing quarterbacks.

Fitten got his first major action in 2020, making starts in the Gamecocks final two games. He recorded eight tackles and a sack in that limited action, but is looking to make a more noticeable impact as a sophomore. A change at the helm may be all that he needed.