South Carolina PFF grades: North Carolina
South Carolina is moving forward now after a disappointing loss to North Carolina in the opening game, and it’s time to examine some of the performances.
There was some good and some bad in a 31-71 loss to the Tar Heels, and let’s look at the best and worst Pro Football Focus grades from the day.
South Carolina offense
The Gamecocks’ highest-graded player offensively was Xavier Legette, which shouldn’t be much of a surprise. Legette finished with an 85.4 overall grade after catching nine passes for almost 180 yards and being arguably the most explosive player on the field Saturday night.
[Win a Spencer Rattler-autographed football]
Spencer Rattler was the team’s second-highest grade at 70.5 overall with a 66.7 grade in the passing game and 70.6 in the run game.
Despite being pressured on over 30 percent of his dropbacks, Rattler still averaged over nine yards an attempt and didn’t commit any turnover-worthy plays offensively. South Carolina created 11 explosive plays (passes of 18 yards, rushes of 12 yards) with Rattler part of every single one.
He had nine passes of at least 18 yards–four of which were to Legette–while scrambling for 43 yards while evading pressure.
Juju McDowell finished with a 66.8 overall grade after rushing five times for minus-one yard but he did catch three passes for 31 yards and was integral as part of South Carolina’s second touchdown drive.
[Win two FREE tickets to South Carolina vs. Furman from 107.5 The Game! 🏈]
Payton Mangrum (10 snaps) had a 63.4 overall grade after catching one pass for 12 yards while Nick Gargiulo had the fifth-highest grade at 62.8. The Yale transfer had a 74 overall pass-blocking grade and a 57 run-blocking grade.
Other offensive grades
Josh Simon: 61.9
Vershon Lee: 60.6
Trai Jones: 60
Cason Henry: 58.9
Luke Doty: 58.7
Ahmarean Brown: 58
Dakereon Joyner: 57.1
Jakai Moore: 56.4
Nyck Harbor: 53.9
Jaxon Hughes: 53.3
Sidney Fugar: 52.4
Tyshawn Wannamaker: 52.4
Trey Knox: 48.2
Juice Wells: 47
O’Mega Blake: 46.5
Top 10
- 1Breaking
DJ Lagway
Florida QB to return vs. LSU
- 2
Dylan Raiola injury
Nebraska QB will play vs. USC
- 3
Elko pokes at Kiffin
A&M coach jokes over kick times
- 4New
SEC changes course
Alcohol sales at SEC Championship Game
- 5
Bryce Underwood
Michigan prepared to offer No. 1 recruit $10.5M over 4 years
South Carolina defense
Defensively, Kajuan Banks finished as the highest-graded Gamecock with a 72.1 overall grade and a 70.2 coverage grade. Banks finished with one pick on one target. He was tied with Jordan Strachan for the best grade on defense.
[GamecockCentral Business Network]
Strachan–in his first game back from an ACL injury–finished with three total pressures with two quarterback hits and a hurry.
Debo Williams–who finished with 14 total tackles in the game–had a 71.9 overall grade with one pressure, six stops and allowing just 30 yards on six targets.
Tyreek Jonson had a 71.5 overall grade in 37 snaps with a pair of pressures and two assists. He had one coverage snap and a target, allowing a catch for six yards.
[Get news from GamecockCentral via email]
The best defensive back who logged more than 15 snaps was Marcellas Dial, who had a 69.8 overall grade. He was targeted twice, allowing one catch for six yards. OD Fortune had a 68.6 grade with four targets and just one reception allowed with a pick.
Other defensive grades
Jalon Kilgore: 68.2
Stone Blanton: 65.2
Bryan Thomas Jr.: 64.8
Nick Emmanwori: 63.8
Tonka Hemingway: 62.9
Elijah Davis: 62.2
Drew Tuazama: 62.1
DQ Smith: 61.5
Mo Kaba: 61.2
Terrell Dawkins: 61
Vicari Swain: 60
Des Umeozulu: 60
Judge Collier: 60
King-Demenian Ford: 60
Landon Grier: 60
Keenan Nelson Jr.: 56.8
Boogie Huntley: 55.7
TJ Sanders: 54.7
BJ Gibson: 50.4
Jamaal Whyce: 49.7
Nick Barrett: 49.6
David Spaulding: 46.8
