Alex Huntley explains why he is confident that South Carolina is primed for bounce back season

South Carolina did not have the 2023 season anyone inside the program wanted. Shane Beamer made great progress the year prior but did not respond well, finishing with a 5-7 record. Three of those wins occurred down the stretch but losing the in-state rivalry to Clemson ended a chance of making a bowl game.

Now, those same people are confident South Carolina can bounce back nicely this fall. Gamecocks defensive lineman Alex Huntley is certainly one of them, having a ton of belief in the Gamecocks. There is nothing other than winning on their minds according to Huntley.

“We all came back with a real big chip on our shoulder, ready to work, ready to do what we got to do to win,” Huntley said. “That’s the only thing on our minds right now is win.”

Huntley then explained his confidence level, specifically on the defensive end. He likes the addition South Carolina made this season, bringing in instant-impact players. A quarterback battle may be taking place on the other side but Huntley feels like he is now surrounded with some playmakers on defense.

“We have a lot of guys come in who made an immediate impact on our team and defense,” Huntley said Monday at SEC Media Days. “That’s something that obviously helps you in every aspect.”

No specific players were mentioned by Huntley. But South Carolina did a lot of work in the NCAA transfer portal this offseason.

Six defensive players transferred in, with four of them being line-of-scrimmage players. A significant amount of power conference experience is certainly there as well with Gerald Kilgore being the lone non-P5 defensive transfer. The defensive back played at the FCS level for Tennessee Tech.

And then there is Dylan Stewart, one of the best players in the 2024 recruiting class. Stewart was a Five-Star Plus+ prospect and a major recruiting win for Beamer. Freshman routinely makes an impact in SEC programs and he could certainly be the next given an opportunity.

South Carolina opens the season with Old Dominion, one it is hoping is a nice win to get the year started. Two SEC games will then give the Gamecocks a chance to show there has been improvement from their last on-field appearance. A trip to Lexington vs. Kentucky takes place in Week 2 before LSU comes to William-Brice Stadium the following week.

Huntley truly thinks by the time December rolls around, South Carolina will be celebrating the. bounce back season they just endured.