National outlet ranks every SEC position group; How South Carolina football stacks up

This offseason, 247Sports' college football team has been ranking the position groups in the Southeastern Conference. More recently, Brad Crawford compiled the results. So, how did the 2024 version of the South Carolina football team stack up with the rest of the conference?

Based on these rankings, not particularly well.

On offense, the 247 crew ranked quarterbacks, skill position players (running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends), and offensive lines.

The Gamecocks ranked 15th at the quarterback position, only ahead of the Vanderbilt Commodores. Seemingly, LaNorris Sellers' lack of proven production is holding back this ranking as there seems to be no realistic way that he will be the 15th-best SEC player taking snaps this fall. If things go well for him, a top-half-of-the-league season is within his reach, and though he cannot be expected to provide Spencer Rattler production in year 1 as the starter, his dual-threat skill set could cover some holes up front. Robby Ashford and/or Luke Doty could help out by taking some of the short-yardage rushing burden (and the subsequent wear-and-tear) off of Sellers.

At the skill positions, Carolina sits in the 13th spot, ranking better than just the Arkansas Razorbacks, Mississippi State Bulldogs, and Vanderbilt Commodores. Tight end should be good thanks to Josh Simon, Brady Hunt, and 4-star freshman Michael Smith. Lots of questions exist for USC at wide receiver, but the upside for the group is much higher as the group is led by athletic freak Nyck Harbor, seven newcomers, and some players who showed small flashes last year. Running back should be much better thanks to the three transfers (led by Rocket Sanders) who sit in the top four spots on the depth chart. In all, 13th is fair, but there is plenty of reason for optimism that things can be better.

South Carolina football fans know that the offensive line will be better in 2024 than it was in 2023, but that is not a high bar to clear. Clearly one of the two worst units in the conference last year, the Gamecock offense often was doomed thanks to the push from the defensive line. Injuries and inexperience killed the group, and with improved health, a few new players in the two-deep, and more experience, the offensive line won't be as big of a disaster this fall. For now, 247Sports ranks them 13th (again ahead of just the Arkansas Razorbacks, Mississippi State Bulldogs, and Vanderbilt Commodores), but there is a chance for a higher ranking by the time the season ends.

On defense, 247Sports ranked teams' front-7s (defensive line and linebackers together) and secondary units (corners, safeties, and nickels).

The defensive line and linebackers in garnet and black are viewed as some of the better units on the team, but that wasn't reflected in 247's ranking. The Gamecocks again were 13th, ahead of the Florida Gators, Mississippi State Bulldogs, and Vanderbilt Commodores. The D-line has a chance to be good in 2024 after struggling early in 2023, and the linebacker group should be strong against the run. If the front-7 can get after the quarterback, the Gamecock defense could be pretty good this fall. With a handful of transfers and freshmen pushing for spots in the rotation during fall camp (which starts this week), cohesiveness is a concern, but if things go well, 13th will be far too low by season's end.

8th was the highest ranking for any of the Gamecocks' position groups, and that was where defensive backs coach Torrian Gray has his secondary in 247Sports' offseason ranking. The safeties hold this group up as three former Freshman All-Americans (Nick Emmanwori, DQ Smith, and Jalon Kilgore) are expected to start at the two safeties and the nickel. OD Fortune is an experienced corner, and there is a lot of young talent competing for spots in the two-deep outside. However, as good as this group could be, if the front-7 can't generate pressure on the quarterback (ranked outside of the top-100 in sacks last season), the secondary will struggle because no one can cover receivers forever.

There was one other data point in 247Sports' offseason SEC rankings as the outlet ranked the league's coaches, as well.

Shane Beamer slotted into the 12th spot, ahead of just Vanderbilt's Clark Lea, Mississippi State's Jeff Lebby, Florida's Billy Napier, and Arkansas' Sam Pittman. Based purely on overall production, it would be hard to push Beamer any higher up the list, but the Gamecocks have experienced some highs on the field and in recruiting that show there is a better best-case scenario outcome possible under Beamer's leadership. If that reality is to play out for the South Carolina football program, a good showing in 2024 is essential.