South Carolina emerging as popular pick to finish second in SEC East
When the SEC East predicted order of finish comes out later this week, Georgia should be at the top of the list. The discussion sits at which team will be right underneath with South Carolina firmly in the mix.
The Gamecocks have been a hot pick by analysts this week at SEC Media Days while plenty of SEC Network personalities picking South Carolina to finish right behind the reigning national champions.
“I’m going South Carolina. I love Shane Beamer and the culture he’s building there. What he was able to accomplish there with a revolving door at quarterback that included a retired grad assistant, an FCS quarterback, was unbelievable. Now they have Spencer Rattler and they’re building around him,” Jordan Rodgers said.
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“There are question marks on the defensive front, yes. But the offense with Jaheim bell at tight end and Austin Stogner from Oklahoma, one of the best in the SEC. I think it’s going to make some waves.”
The hype around the South Carolina program is in part because of Shane Beamer but the addition of Spencer Rattler.
Rattler is a former five-star prospect and also a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate. He is one of the reasons Roman Harper thinks South Carolina can contend.
“At the next level, if you have a Super Bowl contending team, what is the number one question you must answer first? Do you have a quarterback? Right now, I say South Carolina has that quarterback in Spencer Rattler,” he said.
“When you get the quarterback mark checked, that means you have a chance. They are a dangerous team.”
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South Carolina is also not asking Rattler to do it alone. Beamer went out of his way Tuesday to say the Gamecocks aren’t asking him to be Superman.
They’ve also put what they—and a lot of analysts—believe to be a wealth of skill players around him.
Jaheim Bell, Josh Vann, MarShawn Lloyd and Dakereon Joyner all return, paired with transfer portal additions like Juice Wells, Corey Rucker, Austin Stogner and also Christian Beal-Smith.
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“When he’s loaded up and throwing the football it is a thing to watch. Now, you put some talented guys around him, how does he respond?” Harper said. “The rest of the team must come along with him if they want to be that true threat that I’m calling it right now that they are.”
Defensively the Gamecocks lose some significant pieces like Jabari Ellis, JJ Enagbare and also Jaylan Foster.
The bulk of a vastly-improved defense returns, though, headlined by Jordan Burch, Jordan Strachan, Zacch Pickens and Cam Smith.
“You look at what they did on the defensive side, revamping it. Last year they turned it around and had two turnovers per game and allowed just 24 points per game,” Takeo Spikes said. “Cam Smith, he said he’s the best DB in the game. We will find. The defensive line, Zacch Pickens is supposed to step up to the plate big time… I’m excited to see Beamer ball.”
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