Five questions for South Carolina entering Media Days
Talking season is here for South Carolina.
The Gamecocks are a little over 24 hours from taking center stage at SEC Media Days, the first public foray as the season approaches.
South Carolina is taking Shane Beamer and a trio of players: Jovaughn Gwyn, Dakereon Joyner and Zacch Pickens.
[Get four months of Gamecock Central for $1!]
All four will undoubtedly get some of the same questions most other coaches and schools get. But here’s what to expect and a few burning questions.
How much can the offense improve in year two?
The offense was largely inconsistent last season, showing glimpses but also struggling against some of the better teams in the SEC.
South Carolina added a ton of pieces on that side of the ball through recruiting and the transfer portal, leading to many folks believing the offense could take a serious jump.
Beamer and the Gamecocks’ players will almost certainly be asked about a leap on offense. Both Joyner and Gwyn have seen it up close and personal all spring and summer. What they say about it will be interesting.
What will Dakereon Joyner’s role offensively be?
Beamer spent the bulk of the spring and Welcome Home stops asked about what Joyner, the MVP of the bowl game, will do offensively. His response was largely the same, speaking about how versatile he is and how much he can move around in South Carolina’s scheme.
This will be one of the first times Joyner speaks to the media en masse since the bowl game. He should have a pretty clear idea of what his role could look like.
Can Zacch Pickens step into the No. 1 spot up front?
Pickens spent plenty of time playing his first few years on campus. But now he’s coming into a season where he’s expected to be the No. 1 option inside for the Gamecocks.
Top 10
- 1Hot
Ben Herbstreit
Kirk Herbstreit asks for prayers
- 2
USC makes QB change
Trojans to start Jayden Maiava
- 3Trending
Dabo denied vote
'They done voted me out of the state'
- 4
Dana Holgorsen is back
Former Houston, WVU coach joins Nebraska staff
- 5
Couching Carousel
Intel on potential head coaching moves
He’s the old guy in the room this season and spent plenty of time preparing for it. Tuesday will be one of his first chances to speak as the season ratchets up.
How does this team handle expectations?
The Gamecocks overachieved last season from a Vegas perspective. They got to seven wins and beating Florida, Auburn and North Carolina while doing it.
Now—with a quality recruiting class and a host of portal players in the fold—there are more expectations heaped on the Gamecocks.
South Carolina’s players, and head coach, will be lobbed questions about it and it will be interesting to see their answers.
What does Beamer say about expansion and scheduling?
He’s talked about it some over the summer, mentioning the league is already tough and only getting tougher for South Carolina and the rest of the league with the additions of Texas and Oklahoma soon. He’s also mentioned there are pros and cons to both the one-seven and three-six scheduling models.
But, those were before Southern Cal and UCLA bolted for the Big 10. Does his answer change with potentially more expansion on the horizon?
