South Carolina football: predicting season awards, top performers
By Jacob Elsey
Predicting South Carolina football’s season awards
Most Improved Player – TE/H-Back Jaheim Bell
Bell was a relative unknown last year, but he’s seen a boost in usage this offseason. Head coach Shane Beamer has said throughout the Summer that he intends on utilizing a very talented tight ends group, and Bell should be a beneficiary.
The pass catcher is expected to play in more of an H-back role, where he can affect the offense both at the line of scrimmage and out of the backfield. Bell had a monster performance in the Gamecocks’ Spring Game this past April, rushing for 42 yards, catching a seven-yard pass, and finding the endzone as a fullback.
Expect to see plenty of two- and three-tight end sets as South Carolina searches for answers in the passing attack, and look for Bell to reap the benefits.
Runner-ups: Cam Smith, Jalen Brooks
Comeback Player – RB MarShawn Lloyd
Lloyd would’ve been in contention for All-Freshman honors last season, but an offseason ACL tear ended his season before it got started. Now, he comes in as the team’s first back off the bench in a talented running back room.
Lloyd came to South Carolina as a five-star recruit, and one of the best rushing prospects to ever sign with the Gamecocks. He’s now back to 100%, and is looking to make his first impacts on the offense.
Lloyd offers a bit of a change from the running style of projected starter Kevin Harris, who’s more of a power rusher. The redshirt freshman is elusive and has the speed and vision to break off the big play. It may be a “committee” approach in the backfield this year, and Lloyd will help shoulder some of the load that Harris had to carry last season.
Runner-ups: Aaron Sterling, Sherrod Greene