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SOUTH
CAROLINA GAMECOCKS
2012
College Football Early Preview
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OFFENSE
- 8 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 6 |
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KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Rokevious Watkins-OT, Terrence
Campbell-OG, Stephen Garcia-QB,
Jay Wooten-K, Alshon
Jeffery-WR (NFL) |
DEFENSE:
Travian
Robertson-DT, Melvin Ingram-DE,
Rodney Paulk-MLB, Antonio Allen-SPUR,
C.C. Whitlock-CB, Marty Markett-CB,
Joey Scribner-Howard-P, Stephon
Gilmore-CB (NFL) |
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RB
Marcus Lattimore |
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Defensive
Back / Running Back |
The
nation's No. 2 ranked
passing defense
is set to return
three full-time
senior starters
with plenty of depth
behind them. Getting
Heisman Candidate
ball carrier Marcus
Lattimore back from
a season ending
knee injury keeps
the Gamecock offense
ranked in the top
4 of the SEC in
total offense. |
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Quarterback / Offensive
Line / Kicking |
Like
a broken record,
legendary coach
Steve Spurrier enters
another year with
quarterback questions.
It does not help
matters when the
offensive line is
one of the worst
in the league at
protecting the passer.
The Gamecocks also
need to locate a
new kicker and punter.
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DE
Devin Taylor |
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*
DEPTH CHARTS were only designed
as a simplistic gauge for listing
players that departed and players
that received the most playing
experience (consistent starters).
NationalChamps.net recognizes
the importance of missing personnel
data not listed such as redshirts,
transfers, injuries, incoming
recruits, back ups and alternates.
Their coverage will begin with
our full 2012 Preseason Preview
due out this coming spring. |
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SOUTH
CAROLINA 2012 DEPTH
CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Connor
Shaw-Jr |
Dylan
Thompson-So |
FB |
Dalton
Wilson-Sr |
.. |
TB |
Marcus
Lattimore-Jr (inj.) |
Brandon
Wilds-So / Kenny
Miles-Sr / D.L. Moore-Sr |
WR |
.. |
.. |
WR |
Ace
Sanders-Jr |
Nick
Jones-So |
WR |
Bruce
Ellington-So |
Damiere
Byrd-So / DeAngelo Smith-Jr |
TE |
Justice
Cunningham-Sr |
Rory
Anderson-So |
OT |
.. |
.. |
OG |
A.J.
Cann-So |
.. |
C |
T.J.
Johnson-Sr |
.. |
OG |
.. |
.. |
OT |
Cody
Gibson-So |
Mike
Matulis-So |
K |
.. |
.. |
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SOUTH
CAROLINA 2012 DEPTH
CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Devin
Taylor-Sr |
Chaz
Sutton-Jr |
DT |
Byron
Jerideau-Sr |
.. |
DT |
Kelcy
Quarles-So |
Aldrick
Fordham-Sr |
DE |
Jadeveon
Clowney-So |
.. |
MLB |
Shaq
Wilson-Sr |
.. |
WLB |
Reginald
Bowens-Sr |
Quin
Smith-Sr |
SPUR |
Damario
Jeffery-Sr |
Sharrod
Golightly-So |
CB |
Victor
Hampton-So |
.. |
CB |
.. |
.. |
SS |
DeVonte
Holloman-Sr |
Brison
Williams-So |
FS |
D.J.
Swearinger-Sr |
Jimmy
Legree-Jr |
P |
.. |
.. |
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QUICK
TAKES |
12/21/11
- South
Carolina will be a Top
10 team again if running
back Marcus Lattimore
gets back to 100% health,
if Connor Shaw continues
to mature as a quarterback
and if the NFL Draft
doesn't steal too many
Gamecock underclassmen.
The defense will still
lead the charge.
- Spurrier
has already led South
Carolina to its best
season since 1983. One
more win in the bowl
game gives them an 11-win
season, something that
has never been accomplished
in school history. There
is no reason to believe
the 2012 team cannot
duplicate this feat.
- An
interesting aspect to
watch will be just how
this defense reacts
and plays without defensive
coach Ellis Johnson,
who took the head-coaching
job at Southern Miss.
- Connor
Shaw is an underrated
quarterback. His running
ability and maturation
this past season after
stepping in for Stephen
Garcia helped the Gamecocks
to a 7-1 record with
him under center. This
is still the nation's
96th ranked passing
offense.
- Alshon
Jeffery has rewritten
the school record books
for a wide receiver.
Everyone expects Jeffery
to enter the NFL draft
in 2012. This will not
help Spurrier's struggles
to find a passing game
for once.
- Freshman
Brandon Wilds exceeded
expectations carrying
the pigskin while filling
in for the injured Marcus
Lattimore. But this
team needs Lattimore
back to 100% if they
wish to compete with
Georgia for the SEC
East crown. The offensive
line, although playing
much better than just
two to three seasons
ago, continues to hinder
the offensive efforts.
- Defensive
end Jadeveon Clowney
is as good as advertised
and was named SEC Freshman
of The Year by the league's
coaches. His presence
on the outside keeps
South Carolina on the
list of elite defenses.
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SOUTH
CAROLINA 2012 SCHEDULE
Aug.
30 - at Vanderbilt
Sept. 8 - East Carolina
Sept. 15 - UAB
Sept. 22 - Missouri
Sept. 29 - at Kentucky
Oct. 6 - Georgia
Oct. 13 - at Louisiana State
Oct. 20 - at Florida
Oct. 27 - Tennessee
Nov. 10 - Arkansas
Nov. 17 - Wofford
Nov. 24 - at Clemson
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