- Head coach: Shane Beamer (4th season)
- 2023 record: 5-7
- PFF power ranking: 45th
- Chance to win SEC: 2%
- Strength of schedule: 17th
- Projected win total: 6.3
- FanDuel win total: 5.5
- 2024 recruiting rank (On3): No. 19 nationally, No. 10 in the SEC
After two winning seasons to begin his tenure as South Carolina’s head coach, Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks came crashing down with a 5-7 record this past season. One of the biggest culprits was the offensive line, which allowed the highest pressure rate of any Power Five team last year (33.5%) while earning the third-worst run-blocking grade.
South Carolina will need major improvements from that group to allow its talented playmakers to shine. The defensive line has some skilled players, but the Gamecocks have to perform better in coverage after earning just a 105th-ranked coverage grade in 2023.
Click here for more college football:
NCAA Power Rankings | NCAA Premium Stats | NCAA Betting Dashboards 2024 CFB Schedule | News and Analysis | The PFF College Football Show
Biggest Strength: A dynamic rushing attack
South Carolina added two very capable running backs from the transfer portal in Arkansas’ Raheim Sanders and North Texas’ Oscar Adaway III. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers is also a serious threat on the ground despite recording 47 rushing yards on just seven attempts last year.
Biggest Weakness: Will the offensive line improve?
Having potent ball-carriers is a moot point if the Gamecocks’ offensive line struggles as much as it did last year. South Carolina’s front-five was the fourth-lowest-graded unit in the Power Five in 2023. None of the incoming transfers are projected to start, so the four returning starters will need to make major leaps this season.
2023 Team Overview
Offense |
||||
| EPA per play | Yards per play | Successful play rate | Explosive run play rate | Explosive pass play rate |
| -0.058 | 5.5 | 33.1% | 12.7% | 15.8% |
| 91st | 79th | 92nd | 110th | 44th |
Defense |
||||
| EPA allowed per play | Yards allowed per play | Successful play rate allowed | Explosive run rate allowed | Explosive pass rate allowed |
| -0.002 | 5.5 | 34.3% | 13.4% | 14.1% |
| 77th | T-66th | 59th | 34th | 63rd |
Three Notable Transfer Portal Additions
- RB Raheim Sanders (Arkansas): 60.6 PFF grade
- WR Jared Brown (Coastal Carolina): 80.7 PFF grade
- EDGE Kyle Kennard (Georgia Tech): 70.0 PFF grade
Three Notable Transfer Portal Losses
- WR Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. (Ole Miss): 58.6 PFF grade
- RB Mario Anderson (Memphis): 72.9 PFF grade
- LB Stone Blanton (Mississippi State): 48.1 PFF grade
Quarterback Spotlight: LaNorris Sellers
2023 Grade: 94.1
Key Stat: Four career pass attempts
© 2024 PFF - all rights reserved.