Five South Carolina players who made a big jump this season
A lot of this season for South Carolina was headlined by transfers–Spencer Rattler, Antwane Wells, Nate Adkins and others–but there were plenty of non-transfers who helped the Gamecocks to their first eight-win season since 2017.
A bevy of players stuck around, believing in Shane Beamer and what he was building in Columbia. Here are a few who came back and too another step forward.
Zacch Pickens
Zacch Pickens helped himself tremendously by deciding to stay at South Carolina. Pickens started making a real impact as a sophomore in 2020 and continued the production as a junior, leaving many asking if he would enter the NFL draft.
Pickens instead stayed home and had the best season of his collegiate career. He was a crucial part of the Gamecock defense not only from a talent perspective but as a leader too.
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“I’m glad I came back because I wouldn’t have gotten to see everybody grow,” Pickens said. “That’s one thing I like seeing, young guys growing up.”
Pickens finished the year with 42 total tackles and 2.5 sacks. The final sack came in a massive spot against Clemson and was a true testament to what Pickens had been working towards.
What his draft prognosis looks like currently is to be determined, but Pickens undoubtedly helped himself.
Jalen Brooks
Supersenior wide receiver Jalen Brooks is another guy who also had a bounce-back year. Brooks got off to a hot start in Beamer’s first season with 14 receptions for 181 yards at the midway point. But he wasn’t with the team the last half of the year, rejoining them in the summer.
Brooks chose to return to South Carolina and the decision paid off. He was a crucial role player for the offense at wide receiver. Brooks had a reception in nearly every game and was one of the top two or three options at receiver this season.
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He had two touchdowns on the season. Both of them were game-enders. His first was a 24-yard reverse against Kentucky that sealed the deal in Lexington. Then he scored from 20 yards out off of a pass from Rattler to seal the deal against Tennessee.
He finished the year with 33 receptions for 504 yards and a touchdown and 4 carries for 51 yards and a touchdown.
Tonka Hemmingway
Tonka Hemmingway made a massive leap in 2022, going from rotational player to budding defensive lynchpin.
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In 2022, he played in all 12 games and stepped up in a big way.
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Hemmingway finished the year with 29 tackles, seven of which were for a loss, and four sacks. His biggest game came against Kentucky where he had four tackles and 1.5 sacks and a fumble return to set up the Gamecocks’ first touchdown.
Hemmingway made headlines for his pass-catching abilities as well. He caught a 16-yard fake punt from Kai Kroger that set the fanbase on fire. The big guy showed he can move on a two-point conversion against South Carolina State as well.
Marcellas Dial
The junior college transfer stepped almost right into a starting role at South Carolina, starting seven games and registering 33 tackles last season.
Dial, the third of a three-headed cornerback rotation, started nine games this year with 41 tackles and three interceptions. Dial’s biggest game came against Clemson where he allowed just one reception on 13 targets, three pass deflections and a nearly game-sealing pick.
Marshawn Lloyd
After a tumultuous return to the field that included a torn ACL and not seeing a big role in year one under Beamer, Lloyd became the Gamecocks’ feature back this season when healthy.
Lloyd was an integral part of the offense this season. He played in nine games due to a thigh injury that left him out for the Vanderbilt, Florida and Tennessee games.
Despite the injury bug, Lloyd finished the year with 111 carries for 573 yards and a team-best nine touchdowns. He also had 18 receptions for 187 yards and two touchdowns from the air. His biggest game came against UNC-Charlotte where he rattled off 169 yards and three touchdowns.
Lloyd is another player that has eligibility left but could make the leap to the next level if he chooses. He will be the primary option in the backfield if he decides to stick around for the 2023 campaign.
