South Carolina football: previewing the East Carolina Pirates
By Jacob Elsey
Previewing South Carolina football’s week 2 matchup
Key Players
Holton Ahlers
Ahlers is the engine to the East Carolina offense. The game plan will run through the signal caller, and he’s one of the best that the Gamecocks will face all year. Ahlers tossed a couple of touchdowns last weekend, and you can bet that the Pirates will be aggressive in the passing game as they look to get on the scoreboard early against South Carolina.
Ahlers has thrown for nearly 7,400 yards in his career, and boasts a 53 to 23 touchdown to interception ratio. If the Gamecocks can’t find a way to throw the passer off his game, it could be a long day for the South Carolina secondary.
Ja’Quan McMillian
McMillian has been a playmaker in the secondary for each of his first two seasons. In just 21 games of action, the defender has picked off eight passes, including one last week versus the Mountaineers. McMillian also led the team in tackles with 10, and will look to carry that success over to the matchup with South Carolina.
The Gamecocks may be breaking in a new starting quarterback, and if the run game doesn’t get going early, the offense may have to throw the ball down the field. That could lead to more opportunities for McMillian to pick off a pass or two, which would go a ways in helping East Carolina earn a huge win.
Kevin Harris
Harris returns for his first game of the year after leading the SEC in rushing a season ago. He’ll look to feast on an East Carolina defense that’s struggled against the run over its last 10 games. Dating back to the start of the 2020 season, the Pirates are allowing an average of 203.8 yards a game to opposing rushers.
Harris topped the 200-yard mark by himself twice last year, and this matchup presents a chance to repeat that feat for the first time in 2021. You can bet that the Pirates will key on Harris and the South Carolina running backs, but he should see some success against a young front four.
Luke Doty
Doty is probable to return in some form this weekend as he recovers from a foot injury sustained over the offseason. We think he earns the start, and will have a huge impact on the outcome of the game.
Doty can hurt defenses with both his arm and his leg, and we’re expecting a big day from the sophomore passer on Saturday. Look for the Gamecocks to open up the playbook a bit in week two and call on their new quarterback to lead the offense to a win.