Revisiting South Carolina preseason predictions

With the regular season in the books for South Carolina, it’s time to look back at our preseason predictions to see how much of a hambone we were some some of them.

To visit the original story from Aug. 30, Uva’s predictions for 2022 South Carolina season click HERE.

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1 – Jordan Strachan will lead the team in sacks

This one hurts because of what could’ve been. Prior to arriving at USC Strachan led the nation in sacks with 10.5. After having a chance to watch two experienced starters in front of him for a year (J.J. Enagbare and Aaron Sterling) he was off to a hot start with 11 tackles and a sack. But that’s where it would end for him after tearing his ACL Week 2 against Arkansas. Despite only playing in 1.5 games, Strachan finished tied for seventh on the team in sacks. Tonka Hemingway led the Gamecocks in that category this season with 4.5.

Assuming Strachan would want to return next season, and USC wanting him back, it would be his seventh year. Ultimately, the NCAA would need to grant him another medical waiver. It’s very, very rare but in 2021 the NCAA granted a seventh year of eligibility to an SMU LB. That also included a COVID-19 year.

2 – Team will average over 30 points a game

Since 2015, South Carolina had averaged 30 PPG or more in a season just once (2018). That changed in 2022 with the Gamecocks averaging 31.7 PPG. Sure, defense and special teams deserves some credit but that doesn’t mean the offense was clicking at times. The way things ended against Tennessee and Clemson were two of the better offensive performances USC had this season against P5 teams.

With Marcus Satterfield leaving for Nebraska, USC will have their six different offensive coordinator in eight seasons when they enter the 2023 season.

Win a football autographed by Rattler, Bell, Wells, Gwyn, Kroeger

3 – Jaheim Bell will rush for 100 yards in at least one game

I remember some people scratching their heads when I wrote this back in August. And why wouldn’t you have? Before this season, Bell, a listed tight end, had only rushed the ball for 40 yards on seven carries. Well, after being dubbed a “Wide Back” by Satterfield in the spring, which I think we’re still trying to figure out what that really means still here in December, Bell finished second on the team in rushing yards.

He compiled 73 carries for 263 yards and finished third on the team for rushing touchdowns with three. While he didn’t rush for 100 yards in a game he came close against Tennessee rushing for 82 yards. He also added 39 yards receiving that game.

4 – Brad Johnson will lead the team in total tackles

In 2021, Johnson finished second on the team for total tackles (74). This season, he finished with eighth with (40) tackles. Like we saw during that 2021 season, it was a safety who led the way. And to the surprise of many, at least outside of the building at USC, true freshman Nick Emmanwori was this year’s tackling king. The Irmo product finished with 78 tackles and has earned himself several awards already, including some Freshman All-American honors.

Losing Jaylan Foster was a big loss to this team. But a year later, not only was South Carolina able to find someone to follow in his footsteps but we’ll have a chance to see Emmanwori for at least two more seasons with the Gamecocks.

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5 – Antwane Wells Jr. will lead the team in receiving TDs

If you’ve been following my work going back to last year you know how high I was on Wells. The only question was how quickly was he gonna be able to pick up the playbook? As the season went on he looked more and more comfortable out there. Wells led USC in receiving touchdowns with six. It’s the most receiving touchdowns since Brian Edwards had six in 2019. He also went on to finish second in the SEC in receiving yards (898).

6 – Slow start, strong finish

This is what I wrote on my season prediction for South Carolina.

Between a tough schedule to start the year and an offense that will be trying to get on the same page, South Carolina will start the year off 1-2. They’ll bounce back with wins against Charlotte and SC State and finish the year third in the SEC East behind Georgia and Tennessee. I have USC beating the Vols late in the year but because of a slow start, that’s why I have them finishing behind Tennessee. Final record? 8-4 overall.

Aug. 30, 2022

Like taking a road trip without directions, we didn’t arrive at this final destination (8-4) the way we originally drew it up. But ultimately though, USC found a way to get there by pulling off back-to0back wins against top ten teams for the first time in program history.

What were some of your predictions this season and how did you do? Let us know on the Insiders Forum below.

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