The Gamecocks are 23rd in Sporting News’ updated way-too-early top 25. South Carolina not only avoids Alabama, LSU and Auburn from the West, but also gets two of its three ranked opponents at home. And in a year in which Tennessee and Florida both bring in new head coaches, South Carolina could very well challenge Georgia for the SEC East Division title.
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Here’s what to look for — and expect — from South Carolina in 2018:
College football schedule 2018
College football recruiting 2018
The Gamecocks’ 2018 recruiting class ranks 19th nationally and seventh in the SEC according to 247Sports’ Composite team rankings. The class is headlined by four-star defensive tackle Rick Sandidge, the No. 141 player in the country and No. 14 player at his position. South Carolina also managed to get three four-star early enrollees, including the No. 4 player in the state of South Carolina, dual-threat quarterback Dakereon Joyner.
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College football roster 2018
South Carolina’s official roster will be updated throughout the spring here.
What to watch in 2018:
- Jake Bentley’s progression
Bentley has been South Carolina’s go-to at quarterback for one-and-a-half seasons now, but it’s time to expect a little more from the junior signal-caller. Bentley doubled his touchdown throws to 18 in 2017, but also tripled his interceptions thrown, to 12. The Gamecocks don’t need Bentley to be a virtuoso to win their division, but they’ll need him to limit his mistakes. Luckily for them, Dan Werner — who has worked with the likes of Ken Dorsey and Chad Kelly at Miami and Ole Miss, respectively — takes over as South Carolina’s quarterbacks coach. The return of Deebo Samuel will only help Bentley as well. Speaking of which. …
- Can Deebo Samuel stay healthy?
The senior wide receiver has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his stay in Columbia, but his career has been hampered by injuries. If he can stay healthy, Samuel is a versatile player who can break games open rushing, receiving and returning: Consider that Samuel has 86 catches for 1,194 yards (13.9 yards per catch) and five touchdowns; 17 carries for 128 yards (7.5 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns; and 20 kickoff returns for (32.5 yards per return) and three touchdowns. Now consider that he hasn’t played more than 10 games a season at South Carolina. If he can stay healthy, he’ll be a huge weapon for the Gamecocks.
3. South Carolina at Georgia
There won’t be a bigger game in the SEC East in 2018 than the Sept. 8 matchup between No. 3 Georgia and No. 23 South Carolina. Considering the relatively weak division — and the fact South Carolina gets an easier draw of SEC West teams — the outcome of this game could very well decide who the East representative is in Atlanta on Dec. 1. The Gamecocks are 0-2 against Georgia under Muschamp, but are 4-6 over the last 10 years — and 3-2 at home. If the Gamecocks pull off the early-season upset, they’d take a commanding lead in the SEC East race?
