The largest class on South Carolina’s 2021 list is the senior class. The group of 27 players with scholarships is divided into three categories: senior (7), senior redshirt (19) and fifth-year player (3).
Eight members of the 2020 senior class have chosen to return to the program, and could do so because the NCAA did not count for eligibility last season. Tight end Nick Muserusher border Aaron Sterling and linebacker Damani Staley are now listed as fifth year players. Defender Sherrod Greenedefensive back Jaylan Fosterplace kicker Parker White, Defender Spencer Eason-Riddleand defensive striker Jabari Ellis hold senior distinctions redshirt. Greene and Eason-Riddle would likely have qualified to return, regardless of the NCAA pandemic decision, because they both played less than four games due to injuries.
The group of 27 seniors is practically evenly divided, with 13 in attack, 13 in defense and White being the only specialist. Each senior student listed below is separated by the side of the ball on which it appears. The 19 redshirts have (R) next to their names. Its uniform number and position precedes its name.
OFFENSE (13)
No. 6, WR Josh Vann
No. 8, WR Randrecous Davis (R)
No. 9, TE Nick Muse (fifth year)
No. 11, RB Zaquandre White (R)
No. 13, WR EJ Jenkins (R)
No. 15, QB Jason Brown (R)
No. 18, WR OrTre Smith (R)
No. 71, OL Eric Douglas (R)
No. 75, OL Jazston Turnetine
No. 76, OL Jordan Rhodes (R)
No. 79, OL Dylan Wonnum
No. 81, WR Jalen Brooks
No. 86, WR Chad Terrell (R)
Based on previous seasons, at least five of the above names served as weekly initiators in South Carolina. Muse returns to lead the tight end room, while Douglas (center), Turnetine (left tackle), Rhodes (left guard) and Wonnum (right tackle) could well represent 80 percent of Greg Adkins’ initial offensive line.
The wide receiver room has five seniors, all with varying degrees of experience. Davis, Smith and Terrell return to the mix after Davis and Smith chose to leave in the preseason and Terrell was still recovering from a torn ACL last spring. Vann was a regular member of the rotation last season, while Brooks joined the fold five games after waiting for the NCAA to be released. Jenkins, who is listed at 6-7 pounds and 235 pounds, is a transfer from FCS Saint Francis.
Brown, Jenkins’ teammate since high school, also joined the program to compete for playing time as a defender.
White, the rear of JUCO’s 2020 class # 1, is back on the running back after playing a few defensive backs at the end of last season due to friction and injuries in high school.
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DEFENSE (13)
No. 10, DB RJ Roderick
No. 11, DL Jahkeem Green (R)
No. 15, EDGE Aaron Sterling (fifth year)
No. 19, LB Brad Johnson (R)
No. 27, DB Jaylan Foster (R)
No. 30, LB Damani Staley (fifth year)
No. 44, LB Sherrod Greene (R)
No. 45, LB Spencer Eason-Riddle (R)
No. 52, EDGE Kingsley Enagbare
No. 90, DL Rick Sandidge
No. 94, DL MJ Webb (R)
No. 97, DL Devontae Davis (R)
No. 99, DL Jabari Ellis (R)
A lot of experience in the first seven laps. Sterling and Enagbare have won the team sack crown for the past two seasons, Sterling as a junior in 2019 and Enagbare as a junior in 2020.
Inside the line, Green returns to his home after the transfer from Nebraska to join Sandidge, Ellis, Webb and Davis.
Greene (9 games lost) and Johnson (4 games lost) were out of the squad due to injuries last season. Eason-Riddle (ACL) was lost in special team units. Staley had his longest playing time and finished third in the team in tackles.
In high school, Foster returns for his second year of scholarship. He started five games safely. Roderick gave up after Will Muschamp was fired, but returns to the secondary, if he plays safely, nickel or a SPUR-like position in the defensive coordinator Clayton Whiteof the 4-2-5 scheme.
SPECIAL TEAMS (1)
No. 43, PK Parker White (R)
White returns for his fifth season with the show. Another 12 games played with Gamecocks give White the chance to break Elliott Fryschool record of points scored. White has 290 in 46 games played. Fry had 359 in 51 games.
White has 56 of 82 in field shots in his career, with 43 of them within 40 yards (a rate of 86 percent of those distances).