South Carolina football begins spring camp this week, six days from March 20. Before Gamecocks enter the field of practice for the first of 15 training sessions, here are three topics about the team – one in each of the three phases – I anticipate that we will know more about it by the end of April.
1. A young linebacker will appear
The Gamecocks defense is now being orchestrated by Clayton White. However, when he is not on the pitch, he will have a linebacker to be the heart of the group. With Ernest Jones now working to be in the NFL, the competition is open for that role. Veterans of the team like Sherrod Greene and Damani Staley return, but there is also a mix of young linebackers to monitor at the spring camp.
From Rosendo Louis for Jahmar Brown for Mohamed Kaba for Debo Williams, everyone goes through varying periods of time with the program and everyone is young when it comes to great experience. At the end of the spring camp, I expect one of those four to emerge as a potential starter for the season.
two Justin Stepp will make an impact
This is the time of year when a position coach known for developing his players makes his mark. The rotation of the wide receiver will not be set until pre-season, but the spring camp is where progress can be made. Seven wide receivers who played for Gamecocks in 2020 remain on the list. They combined for 40 400-yard receptions and two touchdowns.
More will be needed from that group next season, along with transfer arrivals Ahmarean Brown and EJ Jenkins as well as the return of exclusion seasons for OrTre Smith and Randrecous Davis.
Stepp is now training wide receivers for the football program he dreamed of playing when he was young. I hope that passion will spread throughout the room. It should have Rico Powers or one Jalen Brooks cause a greater impact than last season, it will be the work done in the field in March and April that we will point out.
3. Special teams will be more commented
From Shane Beamercoaching experience for Pete LemboBased on the experience of special teams, we, members of the media and fans, will hear more about how this area of the game will become a priority.
All out of season Beamer and head force coach Luke DayThe message for the team has been about teamwork. Creating an adherence to special teams was what made Beamer so likeable as special team coordinator for Gamecocks a decade ago and I hope that will be felt by the entire team in the next five weeks.
Placekicker and punter jobs are guaranteed as they approach spring camp, but there is a desperate need for playmaking skills in the return of kick and punt. Could someone like Wide receiver for freshman Sam Reynolds make an impact there? Because of its speed, it is an underestimated topic among newcomers to the team, via high school or transfer portal.