South Carolina Gamecocks

South Carolina Gamecocks

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OrTre Smith - WR - Gamecocks

During SEC Media Days, South Carolina HC Will Muschamp and redshirt junior WR Deebo Samuel both named freshman WR OrTre Smith an early standout.

Smith could see early work this season depending on how he does in August camp, but Muschamp would not go so far as to promise immediate targets, noting that "we have very good competition at the position." The 6-foot-4, 217-pounder ranked as Rivals' No. 104 overall prospect in the 2017 class. Batman-Robin wideout duo Samuel and Bryan Edwards are expected to see the bulk of targets for the coming season, with Smith a name to file away as intriguing for the time being.
Source: Rivals
Jul 13 - 9:58 PM
Jake Bentley - QB - Gamecocks

SEC Nation co-host Marcus Spears told The State, "I think [South Carolina sophomore QB] Jake Bentley is going to be a stud."

"I think he’s going to be very good. Coach’s son. Knows the game. Has as a little bit of athletic ability where he can get out of the pocket," Spears said. "Can sling it. And then he’s slinging it to Bryan Edwards. He’s slinging it to Deebo Samuel." Spears went on to say that Bentley has the talent to develop into one of the top two or three quarterbacks in the conference -- and in an SEC loaded with young, promising quarterbacks, that is saying something.
Source: The State
Jul 13 - 7:30 PM
Jake Bentley - QB - Gamecocks

Giants QB Eli Manning said that South Carolina sophomore QB Jake Bentley "threw it well, right up there with the rest of the big names" during a private throwing session at the Manning Passing Academy.

Bentley served as a counselor at the camp. Archie Manning offered similar high praise for the sophomore gunslinger, saying, "He’s going to be a good player. He’s young. Sometimes you can just tell that they are savvy. He’s kind of got it." Bentley has drawn hype from a number of sources and outlets this offseason, with SEC Country's Oliver Connelly referring to him as "the smart guy in the room" and SEC Network's Cole Cubelic noting that he "throws (a) great deep ball." Bentley passed for 1,420 yards with a 9/4 TD/INT ratio in seven starts last season, numbers which have plenty of room for growth now that the sophomore is heading into the coming campaign as undisputed starter.
Source: The State
Jun 26 - 1:09 PM
Randrecous Davis - WR - Gamecocks

South Carolina WR coach Bryan McClendon said, "The biggest thing with [redshirt freshman WR] Randrecous [Davis] is getting healthy."

Davis caught three passes for 45 yards in the first two games of the 2016 season before he was sidelined for the remainder of the campaign with a hamstring injury. The 5-foot-10, 181-pounder received a medical redshirt for that campaign. Injury struck once more this offseason, when a sports hernia limited the former four-star recruit during spring practice. Said McClendon of his young wideout, "The guy has kind of dealt with something ever since he’s been here, but he does have a bunch of ability. He’s a guy that’s extremely quick. Does well after the catch and things like that." Assuming he is healthy enough, Davis will be mixing it up with Korey Banks and Chavis Dawkins for depth chart position behind expected starters Deebo Samuel and Bryan Edwards come the start of August camp.
Source: SEC Country
Jun 22 - 7:58 PM
Jake Bentley - QB - Gamecocks

SEC Country's Oliver Connolly called South Carolina sophomore QB Jake Bentley "the smart guy in the room."

"Bentley has an ability to make time stand still and force the pass rush to conform to his beat," Connolly writes, later adding that "[i]t’s like he’s seen an advanced copy of the game." There has been a sizable swell of hype when it comes to Bentley as he enters his highly-anticipated sophomore season with the Gamecocks. Earlier this spring, the SEC Network's Cole Cubelic wrote that if he were doing a draft of SEC gunslingers for college play, Bentley would be his No. 2 pick behind Mississippi State's Nick Fitzgerald. Cubelic loves his release and deep ball.
Source: SEC Country
Jun 15 - 5:32 PM
D.J. Wonnum - DL - Gamecocks

SEC Country's Shehan Jeyarajah writes that South Carolina sophomore DL D.J. Wonnum is "ready to step up" to replace the production of graduated DL Darius English.

"National services rated Wonnum the 1,264 player in the nation, but he developed into a play maker," Jeyarajah writes. "Now, Wonnum will likely be a centerpiece of the front seven. Getting in-depth coaching from defensive guru Will Muschamp will only help." The 6-foot-4, 248-pounder played in all 13 of South Carolina's games last season, recording 32 tackles (3.5 for loss) and 1.5 sacks in that 13-game space. This work earned him a second team All-SEC Freshman designation from Athlon Sports upon the season's conclusion.
Source: SEC Country
Jun 11 - 3:56 PM
Rico Dowdle - RB - Gamecocks

ESPN's Edward Aschoff writes that South Carolina sophomore RB Rico Dowdle could be in for a "true breakout season."

"Keep an eye on this youngster," Aschoff writes, later adding that Dowdle will "be a year older and a year better in Kurt Roper's offense." Earlier this offseason, Shehan Jeyarajah of SEC Country anointed Dowdle as the Gamecocks' "X factor" for the 2017 season. As a true freshman, the 5-foot-11, 211-pound back rushed for 764 yards (5.7 YPC) and six touchdowns.
Source: ESPN.com
Jun 11 - 12:46 PM
Deebo Samuel - WR - Gamecocks

ESPN's Edward Aschoff believes that South Carolina redshirt junior WR Deebo Samuel has a shot at 1,000 yards in 2017.

"Samuel is a game-breaking receiver who hasn't even come close to hitting his potential in Columbia," Aschoff writes. This past season, the 6-foot, 202-pounder caught 59 passes for 783 yards and a touchdown. The continued development of QB Jake Bentley -- who Aschoff refers to as a "rising star" -- figures to be crucial to Samuel's chances of leveling up during the coming season.
Source: ESPN.com
Jun 8 - 7:56 PM
Jake Bentley - QB - Gamecocks

SEC Network analyst Cole Cubelic wrote that if he was drafting SEC quarterbacks to play college football, South Carolina sophomore QB Jake Bentley would be the No. 2 quarterback on his board.

Cubelic slots Mississippi State's Nick Fitzgerald as his No. 1 dance partner in this thought experiment. When he received a bit of Twitter blowback on his high ranking of Bentley, the analyst responded with a few bullet points on the 6-foot-4, 212-pounder: "Solid mechanics. Quick release. Good mobility. Durable. Competitor. Accuracy is there. Throws great deep ball." Bentley threw for 1,420 yards while posting a 9/4 TD/INT ratio across seven starts last season. He saved his best for last, throwing for a season-high 390 yards and three touchdowns (also two interceptions) in a Birmingham Bowl loss to USF this past December.
Source: Cole Cubelic on Twitter
Jun 3 - 3:02 PM
Stephen Davis - LB - Gamecocks

Auburn redshirt freshman RB/LB Stephen Davis transferred to South Carolina.

Davis must sit out this coming season due to NCAA transfer rules. Not only that, but he must walk-on in 2017-18 because Auburn blocked him from being on scholarship this year at an SEC school or Clemson. Davis, the son of former Auburn star Stephen Davis, narrowly chose the Tigers over the Gamecocks coming out of high school. While on Auburn's staff in 2015, South Carolina HC Will Muschamp and DC Travaris Robinson recruited Davis to the Tigers. Davis missed the 2016 season due to a knee injury.
Source: SEC Country
May 31 - 5:56 PM
Skai Moore - LB - Gamecocks

Speaking about South Carolina redshirt senior LB Skai Moore (neck), teammate Dante Sawyer said it "feels like the old 10."

Moore led the Gamecocks in tackles as a freshman, sophomore and junior before missing last season due to a neck injury. He's three interceptions short of tying Bo Davies’ school record of 14. The 6-foot-2, 221-pound Moore will be a superb tag-team partner for fellow linebacker senior Bryson Allen-Williams this fall.
Source: Post and Courier
May 31 - 4:10 PM
Jamyest Williams - DB - Gamecocks

ESPN's Sam Kahn Jr. writes that South Carolina freshman CB Jamyest Williams "has the speed, leaping ability (40-inch vertical) and ball skills to play at corner quickly."

Williams ranked as ESPN's No. 3 cornerback prospect in the 2017 cycle. His size could be something of an issue against larger wideouts, as he measures in at a scant 5-foot-9, 174 pounds. He indicated that he models his game after another undersized star -- former LSU DB Tyrann Mathieu. Said Williams, "We (small guys) have our gifts. I’m fast and quick as stuff. I just have to work harder than the next person because only the strong survive."
Source: ESPN.com
May 28 - 2:08 PM
Maxwell Iyama - G - Gamecocks

Rivals recruiting analysts Rob Cassidy, Chad Simmons and Woody Wommack tagged South Carolina four-star 2018 verbal G commit Maxwell Iyama as a standout from the Rivals 3 Stripe Camp in St. Louis.

"A converted basketball player, Iyama continues to become more effective as an offensive lineman with the more weight he adds to his frame," wrote the analysts. "He worked at both guard and tackle (in St. Louis), and his versatility is one of the reasons the Gamecocks were so high on him to begin with." The 6-foot-6, 280-pounder ranks as Rivals' No. 12 guard prospect in the state of Tennessee.
Source: Rivals
May 26 - 8:08 PM
Bryan Edwards - WR - Gamecocks

South Carolina sophomore WR Bryan Edwards (sports hernia) led the team with four catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns in the Gamecocks' spring game.

While Edwards required surgery to repair a sports hernia earlier this offseason and was initially a limited participant in spring practice, the 6-foot-3, 209-pounder was no worse for the wear in the spring game and should be a healthy participant in full come the start of August camp. He notched an impressive 44-590-4 receiving line as a true freshman. He and Deebo Samuel will be leading the South Carolina attack at receiver in 2017.
Source: SEC Country
May 23 - 6:37 PM
Hayden Hurst - TE - Gamecocks

South Carolina junior TE Hayden Hurst was named preseason first-team All-SEC by Athlon Sports.

Hurst has had himself an interesting career. For starters, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 17th round of the 2012 MLB amateur draft. After his baseball prospects faded, he proceeded to walk on at South Carolina as a receiver prior to the 2015 season before subsequently transitioning over to tight end. That transition worked out beautifully, as the 6-foot-5, 253-pounder caught 48 passes for 616 yards and a touchdown in 13 games last season.
Source: SEC Country
May 23 - 5:53 PM

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