| Herald-Journal
South Carolina is leaving a week after completing the first half of its 10-game schedule for the SEC alone, with a record of 2-3. Here is the mid-season newsletter on Gamecocks:
Offense
Quarterback – B-. Fifth-year transfer Collin Hill played relatively error-free, flanked by few, as dynamic game creators, to whom he can throw the ball. Of his three interceptions, one dodged the hands of the generally trusted Shi Smith and the other came when Jalen Brooks did not finish running off a route or aggressively attacked a defender to fight for the ball.
With pass-catchers not providing much separation, Hill had to be extremely accurate with his pitches. He was also fired 16 times, mostly at the SEC. He is under some pressure, although part of it can be attributed to having held the ball for a long time. His experience with Mike Bobo’s attack and the ability to put the team in the right game has been an advantage in this new system for his teammates.
Wide-receivers – D. That could easily have been an F without Shi Smith showing himself to be worthy of being the No. 1 SEC target now that Deebo Samuel and Bryan Edwards are in the NFL. He responded with 36 receptions for 415 yards with three touchdowns.
Only three other wide-outs managed a pass – Xavier Legette, Josh Vann and Rico Powers – combining for 11 140-yard receptions with a touchdown. The USC remains desperate for another or two wide-receivers to emerge as a viable presence to help Hill read his progression, as well as prevent defenses from simply trying to get Smith out of the game without worrying too much about his teammates.
Running backs – A. The surprising emergence of Kevin Harris’ second year as the back workhorse was arguably the biggest positive aspect the attack has ever produced. He has three 100-yard running games and has scored at least one touchdown in each game, including two in each of the last four games. A strong, physical runner who rarely falls on first contact, Harris also proved to be very fast with an 88-yard touchdown run against Vanderbilt and a 70-plus sprint against Auburn due to a penalty. He is second in the SEC, with 535 running yards and eight running touchdowns, and his 5.75 yards per load is third.
Deshaun Fenwick, second year of Redshirt, another downhill runner, has been solid in Harris’ spelling with 208 yards in 36 runs. The transfer Zaquandre White, appointed as the best junior university rearguard in the country last season, was not a factor with only nine loads. After first-rate recruit MarShawn Lloyd was lost during the year due to a torn pre-season ACL, Harris with some help from Fenwick turned this position of great stranger into a force.
Tight ends – C-. Former transferee Nick Muse, leaving the torn ACL last year, overcame a few drops earlier in the season (including a big one at the end of his initial defeat against Tennessee) to become Hill’s best option after Smith with 14 receptions for 202 yards. Redshirt freshman Keveon Mullins may have finally figured it out after catching two long balls against LSU to end with two 101-yard receptions after the start of the last game with just a 9-yard reception.
Offensive line – C. A little confusion from the big guys at the front with the USC ranking a respectable seventh place in the conference with 163.4 yards per game and tied for second with 13 touchdowns. Gamecocks also allowed for a 16-sack league with tackles taking much of the blame there, while the inside line has been much more consistent. The USC had three players who started the tackle on the right and two on the left, while the center and the guards remained the same all the time.
Defense
Line – C. In the past two weeks, even though it was a victory over Auburn, we had a severe drop in performance with Gamecocks allowing 485 yards (5.4 yards per load) and 1,022 total yards. Fifth-year senior Keir Thomas has been a force, while Kingsley Enagbare has had his moments and is tied for the championship lead in bags. Young players like sophomore Zacch Pickens and freshmen Tonka Hemingway and Jordan Burch showed what their high potential could eventually produce, and it would be a welcome sight at USC for this trio to see more crackles and be more consistently productive.
Linebackers – C. Junior Ernest Jones playing in the middle is the heart, soul and defender of the defense and has been a monster across the field. He’s fourth on the SEC with 55 tackles. With starter Sherrod Greene and veteran reserve Spencer Eason-Riddle out due to injuries, there is little depth. Brad Johnson has been disheartening and Damani Staley senior is just OK.
Secondary – C. The only more surprising score than USC running backs earning an A is the average score for what should be the strength of the squad. Junior corner Jaycee Horn has been a first-rate player, but his teammate, junior Israel Mukuamu, has been hampered by a groin injury sometimes limited to safe play due to his impaired agility.
The John Dixon song was another bright spot, but security guards have been average. The unit gave up on many big moves and sometimes exhibited some irregular blocks.
Special teams – C-. Kicker Parker White has been quite accurate (7-to-11 on field goals), except for a 1-to-4 exit at LSU, but he doesn’t have a very strong leg, losing both attempts for at least 50 yards with a long mark of 45. freshman Mitch Jeter had only 16 touchbacks in his 30 kickoffs and punter Kai Kroeger only recently started to perform better after an extremely slow start.
The USC has produced almost nothing in limited opportunities to return kickoffs and punts, and in its last presentation allowed LSU to return a kickoff for a touchdown at home for the first time since 1981.