Fourth-year head coach Will Muschamp and his South Carolina Gamecocks will have the nation's most difficult schedule this upcoming season, according to Phil Steele's 2019 college football strength of schedule rankings.
While the schedule is difficult, there is still hope for South Carolina. That's because an offensive attack that averaged 30.1 points per game will return six starters headed into opening day against the North Carolina on Aug. 31 in Charlotte.
If the team, along with Clemson transfer running back Tavien Feaster, can put some points on the board, the Gamecocks will have a fighting chance. But the question is if they can do it or not.
Quarterback
Senior Jake Bentley will once again start for South Carolina, and the fourth-year quarterback will be aiming to break school records in two categories: total passing yardage and touchdowns.
Currently, Bentley is in South Carolina's all-time top five for both stats with 7,385 passing yards and 54 touchdowns. Part of the reason Bentley was able to do that is because he finished the regular season on fire, playing well against Florida and Ole Miss. To cap it off, he broke a single-game school record for passing yards, with 510 yards on the road against eventual national champion Clemson.
Bentley doesn't come without his baggage, however. The quarterback has thrown 26 interceptions in his last two seasons, finishing 102nd in the nation among 130 total passers in 2017 and 2018.
Depending on Bentley's performance, he could be replaced. If that is the case, Ryan Hilinski, a true freshman from California, is next in line. It remains to be seen what the freshman can do on the field in the SEC, but it appears that he is picking up on the game quickly here in Columbia.
Running Back
Spartanburg native Tavien Feaster rushed for over 1,330 yards with Clemson in his three-year stint at the rival camp, and coaches and fans are excited to see if he can contribute for the Gamecocks. Chris Miller, Feaster's high school coach at Spartanburg, said that his ability to run in space and catch the football were under-showcased during his time with Clemson because his playing time was limited.
While it seems that Feaster could boost a South Carolina running attack that only mustered 152.8 yards per game in 2018 (91st in the nation), it remains to be seen if he will win the starting position. He will compete with three other backs that had meaningful experience in 2018: seniors Rico Dowdle (654 yards), A.J. Turner (294 yards) and Mon Denson (432 yards).
Wide Receivers
Jake Bentley will have an assortment of weapons to choose from when he decides to air it out. The Gamecocks' top returning wide receiver, senior Bryan Edwards, is a tall, speedy 6'3", 215-pound target who can climb the ladder to make the big catch over defenders.
Shi Smith, a junior who hauled in 673 yards and four touchdowns in 2018, is primed for a breakout season. The 5'10", 190-pound receiver has strong pass-catching abilities, and when defensive coaches assign their best defender to Edwards, it will open up Smith to catch more passes. Opposing defenses will likely slot their best cornerback to face Edwards, which Smith can take advantage of to catch more passes.
Josh Vann caught 18 passes for 118 yards as a freshman in 2018. Vann is a fast and physical target who is expected to earn more playing time as a sophomore this fall. OrTre Smith, a redshirt sophomore, should also figure into the rotation. Smith caught 30 passes for 326 yards in 2017 before suffering a nagging knee issue that required surgery after two games last season.
A former quarterback who stands at 6'5", redshirt sophomore Jay Urich is a speedster who we could see playing time as wide receiver this fall. He is one of the fastest players on the team and has been seeing increased reps at practice.
Offensive Line
The Gamecocks boast an offensive line with experienced players.
At the guard positions, redshirt junior Sadarius Hutcherson and sophomore Dylan Wonnum are expected to start. Hutcherson weighs in at 6'4" and 320 pounds and started 11 games at both left and right guard in 2018. Wonnum started the final seven games of the season and was a first team SEC All-Freshman selection.
Donnell Staley is a sixth-year senior who has started at center, left guard and right guard. He is expected to start at guard but is a valuable player who could start anywhere on the line and could potentially be drafted to the NFL after his time is complete in Columbia.
Eric Douglas is projected to be the other starting guard, but Jovaughn Gwyn or Jordan Rhodes should also compete for playing time. Hank Manos is projected to start at center, but Eric Douglas could step in to take snaps if he is not healthy enough to play.
For South Carolina to be successful, the line must not only be able to pass block but also run block. Any time a team rushes for 100 yards or less, it's not good for its chances of winning a game.
Tight End
The position that once was considered an advantage for the Gamecocks is now a bit thin, because former downfield threat Kiel Pollard, who hauled in 181 yards and two touchdowns, retired from the game. Two-sport athlete Evan Hinson is also expected to miss the start of the season.
Kyle Markaway, a fifth-year senior, will be asked to take on a role with more responsibility. Markaway hauled in three passes for 53 yards in 2018. It appears Will Register will be the backup, but he will be pushed by freshmen Traevon Kenion and KeShawn Toney.