Over the course of the next several weeks, the SoBros Network crew will be going around the landscape of the SEC, team by team, previewing the upcoming American tackle football season. Up next, our 2022 South Carolina preview!
2022 SOUTH CAROLINA PREVIEW
Fans of the South Carolina Gamecocks have every right to feel optimism once again, as the head coach, Shane Beamer, has blasted this program with an energy it hasn’t had in a long time. While they had their fair share of tight battles in 2021, the important thing is that they won a lot more of those battles than they were expected to. They finished their season 7-6 after beating the brakes off of the North Carolina Tar Heels in the bowl game. And, many said Beamer had this program heading in the right direction. They’d arrived sooner than expected.
That makes them one of the more intriguing teams to watch in the SEC this year. How does Beamer continue to overdeliver? Does he have to? Are the expectations a bit too much now? All fascinating questions to deep dive into. But, let’s talk about the major get for Beamer this offseason – Oklahoma transfer Spencer Rattler. Rattler should instantly become a factor for that Gamecocks offense with his pure arm talent and dual-threat mobility. This man was not only a Heisman front-runner at one point, but some folks thought he’d be the first overall pick in the NFL Draft once he came out. 2021 most definitely did not go as Rattler intended, as he was benched and ultimately, that puts him in Columbia. But, it’s important to remember the wealth of raw talent this kid possesses. He has some interesting options in senior wide receiver Josh Vann and junior tight end Jaheim Bell. The offensive line is experienced, but needs to improve in order for this unit to have a more consistent run game. But, if they do, with Rattler at quarterback, this could end up being a really fun offense to watch in 2022.
On defense, the Gamecocks are once again loaded in the secondary, led by one of the SEC’s best cornerbacks in Cam Smith. That should be the strength of the defense, but they’ve got some real work to do up front if they’re going to hang with some of the more physical, punishing teams in the SEC. They simply can’t let teams run on them the way they did in 2021. They lost a gamer in Kingsley Enagbare, who is now a Green Bay Packer, but are hopeful that the experienced Jordan Strachan and Jordan Burch can generate pressure on the edge. They’re going to need all the help they can get if they don’t solidify the middle of the field against the run.
2022 Gamecocks Schedule
Saturday, 9/3: vs. Georgia State – Don’t just look at this as a tune-up game for South Carolina. Georgia State has some real fight in it. Shawn Elliott has that program trending in the right direction.
Saturday, 9/10: @ Arkansas – Not only is this game on the road, but it’s just a bad match-up for this Gamecocks run defense. The Razorbacks are experienced, well-coached, and they’re going to be good this season. They are absolutely capable of punching South Carolina in the mouth.
Saturday, 9/17: vs. Georgia – You know what? For the first time this summer, I don’t think I’m just going to type “nope” next to Georgia’s name on somebody’s schedule. If Rattle can get back to more of his Heisman-contending form, he just might be able to give the Bulldogs enough fits to pull off this upset at home. Crazier things have happened.
Saturday, 9/24: vs. Charlotte – The 49ers could be a bowl team in 2022, but I don’t think they have the depth on defense to really hang with South Carolina’s offense.
Saturday, 10/1: vs. SC State – Okay, now we’ve got the true tune-up game.
Saturday, 10/8: @ Kentucky – To me, this is going to be the real litmus test for this South Carolina program, and where Beamer has it. Mark Stoops has been the model of consistency at Kentucky, and right now, they are the next step up in competition for South Carolina. They played ’em close last year, losing 16-10. If they can win this one in Lexington, it just might be another stepping stone to another level for Beamer.
Saturday, 10/15: BYE
Saturday, 10/22: vs. Texas A&M – I don’t think South Carolina is going to be able to pull this one off, but who knows? This is the prime “fall apart and piss the season away” territory for the Aggies.
Saturday, 10/29: vs. Missouri – To have gotten a head start on the whole “program rebuild” thing, the Tigers aren’t really all that far ahead of South Carolina. This one feels like it could go either way, in which case, I’m going to give the nod to the home team…at least from where we stand here in July.
Saturday, 11/5: @ Vanderbilt – Poor Vandy fans. I really do feel for you guys.
Saturday, 11/12: @ Florida – I think it’s going to take time for Florida to get it back together. 2022 could be a rebuilding year for the Gators, and I don’t think it would be all that unbelievable for South Carolina to pull this one off.
Saturday, 11/19: vs. Tennessee – The Vols present another one of those litmus test games for South Carolina, but I’m not sure they’ll be able to slow them down long enough to pull ahead.
Saturday, 11/26: @ Clemson – While I’m not quite sure of what the Tigers are going to be on offense this season, I still think that defense is going to be far too dominant for South Carolina to overcome.
Crystal Ball
Shane Beamer made an immediate impact in his first season at South Carolina, and his team played with the fight and the energy that he restored to that program. They surprised us all in 2021, but the big question, for me, is how they’ll perform with higher expectations, and when teams can see them coming now. This should be an explosive offense – one that I think has the potential to surprise, but the defense has some work to do. My official gun-to-my-head prediction here is 6-6 with that schedule.
MORE 2022 SEC SEASON PREVIEWS
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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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