For Gamecocks, 5 lingering questions as fall camp opens

6 hrs ago
COLUMBIA — South Carolina kicks off preseason camp on Friday morning. What are the most pressing issues to solve during August before the Gamecocks hit the road to Charlotte for their Sept. 2 season opener against North Carolina?
To run or not to run
The Gamecocks’ lack of scholarship running backs precipitated the move of Fort Dorchester High School alum Dakereon Joyner to running back, and there will be plenty to report on his progress and the status of the other RBs. Yet it’s the overall production of the group over the next month that will draw the most scrutiny.
Frankly, how well the Gamecocks run the ball in practice and scrimmages will dictate how effective Dowell Loggains’ first collegiate offense will look. If the results are good, it gives Loggains that much more with which to work. If they aren’t, and the Gamecocks have to resort to more ways to run the ball other than pound into the line, it’s going to heap more pressure on the passing game, which puts more pressure on the offensive line and on Loggains to be more creative, since the opposing defenses will be keyed to stop the pass.
Star or starburst?
Spencer Rattler’s final two regular-season games of 2022 were legendary, the rifle-armed junior shredding Tennessee and Clemson into coleslaw. He’s worthy of the preseason accolades and the nods from the talking heads, and seems to have gotten himself back into the NFL picture.
Did everybody forget about the 10 games before that?
Rattler wasn’t bad in them, by the numbers, completing 64.7 percent of his passes for 2,228 yards, but his touchdowns equaled his interceptions (10). He was at 72.4 percent with eight touchdowns against the Volunteers and Tigers, throwing two really bad picks against Clemson.
Perhaps the up-and-down start shot to a higher plane and will remain there. The Gamecocks are certainly hoping those two games weren’t just a road flare.
Phenom
There’s always an eye on the backup quarterback, but the No. 2 man behind Rattler is Luke Doty. He’s earned that and as Shane Beamer has pointed out, has played some good football for the Gamecocks.
Yet there’s that guy, the freshman, who authored one of the most stunning single seasons in South Carolina prep football history …
LaNorris Sellers has already wowed with his size, strength, speed and ability to digest the playbook. The rookie from state champion South Florence High is going to play.
But how much? In what role? Is he the third QB, bidding for a look at No. 2? Does he take over the “change of pace” role helmed by Joyner in years past, since Joyner will be at RB?
Placeholders
Edge rusher Jordan Strachan and linebacker Mo Kaba will be limited to start camp, although they should still be in uniform and on the field. They’re still working their way back from torn ACLs, each suffered in a loss at Arkansas last year.
Who gets the nod in the meantime, and will it be enough to perhaps challenge for a starting role?
Linebacker seems to be the most set, since the Gamecocks only play two at a time and Stone Blanton was solid as a freshman last year. Debo Williams will be in the other spot. Kaba will return and could bounce between middle and weakside, but between the three, USC has solutions.
The early hole for Strachan is more mysterious. Newcomer Jatius Geer could be out there to start, with Tyreek Johnson on the other side. Bryan Thomas played well last year and should get a look.
Is Terrell Dawkins recovered from his injury that cost him most of last year so that he can finally make an impact? Or is it up to freshman Desmond Umeozulu?
Trench
The Gamecocks lost Eric Douglas, Jovaughn Gwyn and Dylan Wonnum from last year’s offensive line, and Jaylen Nichols was lost for this year during the spring game. There’s a lot of experience waiting as replacements: Jakai Moore, Vershon Lee, Trai Jones and Tyshawn Wannamaker have played a lot of snaps at USC and Nick Gargiulo played 25 games at Yale.
But it’s all been revamped, from a line that had been together a long time, Lee is now at center, Moore at left tackle, Jones at right guard, Gargiulo at left guard.
They can all rotate spots, but now is the time for the Gamecocks’ heavy squad of underclassmen to step up. Freshmen Ryan Brubaker, Cason Henry, Grayson Mains, Mac Walters and Chase Sweigert were here last year, and USC signed five more linemen, led by coveted prospects Markee Anderson and Tree Babalade. Who gets the call?