100 days from South Carolina Football: 10 players who must make a jump in 2023
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina Football Needs a Big Year from Marcellas Dial
The Gamecocks possessed one of the country’s top cornerback duos in 2022 as Cam Smith and Darius Rush were both capable of shutting down one side of the field when things were going well. Both players were taken in the 2023 NFL Draft (Smith to the Dolphins, Rush to the Colts), and the starting cornerback spots are somewhat up for grabs this offseason. Marcellas Dial is the top choice to be the best cover corner for USC in 2023.
Dial has played a lot of football for the Gamecocks, including getting some starts both inside at nickel and outside as a boundary corner. His job description will look a lot different in the fall as he will be tasked with covering some of the top pass catchers in college football. Dial has had some good moments and some not-so-good moments in garnet and black, but the Gamecocks need him to be at his best as his role is…Dial-ed…up to a new level this fall.
Athlon Sports seems to think that the Gamecocks will be just fine at corner this season as they ranked Dial as one of their top-100 players in college football. Dial came in at #67 on the list, and if he can live up to that billing, he will have successfully filled the shoes of two of the best corners to ever play in Columbia.