5 reasons to believe South Carolina football can be better than expected on offense

5 Reasons South Carolina Football Will Be Better on Offense in 2024:
LaNorris Sellers and an Improved Backfield

Spencer Rattler was a stud for the Gamecocks. As one of the most talented arms ever to wear garnet and black, he overcame some less-than-ideal coaching and offensive line situations to put himself into the top-10 in program history in most passing statistics, despite playing just two years in Columbia.

However, expected 2024 starter LaNorris Sellers might be a better fit for what the Gamecocks need this season.

It would be outrageously unfair to expect Sellers to be better than (or even as good as) Spencer Rattler this fall. His style of play, though, might cover up some of the areas of the game in which the Gamecocks could be at disadvantages this fall.

The offensive line will be better, but they likely won't be world-beaters. When they aren't able to hold up against elite defensive fronts in the SEC, Sellers' mobility will help keep the offense from falling apart. He also should be able to create some big plays with his legs, both by taking off on the ground or by extending plays while his receivers get open.

The bespectacled #16 will help directly with the ground game, too. After averaging a ridiculously-bad 85 yards per game and less than 3 yards per carry last season, the offense needs as much of a boost on the ground as they can get. Spencer Rattler was the 3rd-leading rusher on the team in 2023, and he is not the type of runner Sellers is.

Sellers will be helped by a revamped stable of running backs. Led by Arkansas Razorbacks transfer Rocket Sanders, the new-look position group is deep. Sanders was an All-American in 2022, Oscar Adaway has over 2000 yards and 15 touchdowns from scrimmage in his career, and Jawarn Howell was an FCS All-American last year. 4-star prospects Djay Braswell (2023) and Matthew Fuller (2024) will provide additional depth, too.

Frankly, it would be beyond shocking if the 2024 version of the South Carolina Gamecocks aren't better running the football, and, if they are, that will help the offense earn the first downs and touchdowns in short-yardage that they were unable to convert last season and open up more big-play possibilities in the passing game.