South Carolina Football: 5 players who should play more this weekend

After the South Carolina football team lost an embarrassing 31-17 game to the North Carolina Tar Heels, the struggles to run the football on offense and to slow down the Tar Heel offense while on defense have many Gamecock fans calling for changes in the starting lineup.

Some of those changes will happen naturally this weekend against Furman as USC is dealing with an unfortunately long injury report. Week 1 starters Nick Emmanwori (safety) and Cason Henry (offensive tackle) are not expected to play, and rotational players like Mo Kaba (linebacker), Jatius Geer (defensive end), David Spaulding (defensive back), and Markee Anderson (offensive line) also are not expected to play.

Wide receiver Juice Wells has said that he will play, even going as far as to tell head coach Shane Beamer that he doesn’t want to be limited at practice this week, but he did not look like himself last Saturday and left the game due to discomfort in his foot that he injured this offseason. It would not be surprising to see Wells in a reduced role on Saturday.

Some other changes could come as a result of the play on the field.

The South Carolina football depth chart changed some from week 1 to week 2, even beyond the injuries. However, most depth players won’t play as much in this weekend’s matchup as fans might expect against an FCS opponent. Furman is an elite team in the FCS that could be a tough test for the Gamecocks, and a typical FCS blowout seems unlikely.

But which Gamecocks could be in line for more playing time this Saturday against Furman?

Honorable Mention

LaNorris Sellers: Quarterback LaNorris Sellers is the third-string quarterback on the depth chart, but with back-up Luke Doty getting some run at wide receiver against North Carolina on Saturday, perhaps Sellers is the true second man up at the position. The true freshman is also an ideal candidate to get wildcat snaps, but starting running back (and former quarterback) Dakereon Joyner got the Gamecocks’ only wildcat snap on Saturday.

Luke Doty: Luke Doty is listed as the second-string quarterback and has been called such by head coach Shane Beamer. However, when Ahmarean Brown left the game with an injury on Saturday, Doty played some wide receiver and had a few catches. Doty will continue to play both quarterback and receiver, meaning he will have more chances to get on the field.

Oluwatosin “Tree” Babalade and Trovon Baugh: True freshmen offensive linemen Markee Anderson, Tree Babalade, and Trovon Baugh are extremely talented players who will be major factors in the Gamecock o-line room in the future. However, with the team’s struggles on the line against UNC, the youngsters could be asked to play sooner rather than later.

Anderson is likely out with an undisclosed injury, so Babalade (tackle) and Baugh (guard) seem to be the next men up if the line continues to struggle past the top-8 or so guys. Sidney Fugar, Jaxon Hughes, and Tyshawn Wannamaker all struggled at tackle on Saturday, and the interior guys weren’t great, either. Expect against Furman to see one or both of the freshmen get some snaps.

Eddie Lewis: Memphis transfer Eddie Lewis didn’t play much in week 1, but the shifty athlete could see more time against Furman as starting slot receiver and punt returner Ahmarean Brown is banged up. Brown is expected to play, but Lewis could be a guy who gets on the field some if Brown is ineffective or if the Gamecocks get out to a lead against the Paladins on Saturday.

Nick Elksnis and Connor Cox: Nick Elksnis is a throwback tight end who transferred in from Florida this offseason, and Connor Cox is a true freshman also from the Sunshine State. The block-first tight ends could be called upon to help out the South Carolina offensive line, especially in the run game. Trey Knox and Joshua Simon are higher on the depth chart but struggled to block in week 1.

Elksnis or Cox could be placed into a similar role as Nate Adkins in 2022 when the now-Denver Broncos tight end was utilized as a blocker all over the offense.

DJay Braswell and Mario Anderson: Another true freshman, DJay Braswell is the team’s fastest running back but did not see the field on Saturday, but that could change against Furman. Mario Anderson transferred in from Newberry and also did not play against the Tar Heels. USC struggled mightily to run the ball, so Braswell and Anderson could get a chance this week.

DK Joyner, though extremely limited by his offensive line, didn’t have a great day last week, and Juju McDowell is not an every-down back. Offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains, offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley, and running backs coach Montario Hardesty have to figure out something that works in the run game soon, and getting some new blood on the field might be the answer.