South Carolina will look to bounce back from two straight conference losses when they face the University of Central Florida Knights on Saturday.
The Gamecocks will be looking to grab some momentum to carry with them as the season progresses, and a weak UCF team could provide them with an opportunity to do just that.
Saturday’s dynamic should be weird. Still, even with a noon kickoff on a dreary Saturday against a bad team, there are plenty of storylines to follow. Here are three bold predictions for Saturday’s contest:
1. Walk-on Matrick Belton will lead the Gamecocks in catches and yards.
Matrick Belton recorded his first reception as a Gamecock last week against Georgia. In fact, the redshirt junior transfer from Hampton University caught four passes last Saturday — all from freshman Lorenzo Nunez — for 18 yards. Nunez, starting this week, was 4-4 when targeting Belton and 0-1 when targeting other receivers.
Often when a backup quarterback makes his first start, he looks for a fellow second-teamer at receiver instead of the team’s typical top target. With starter Deebo Samuel out against the Knights, Belton will get more playing time this week.
At least thus far, Belton looks to be Nunez’s top target.
Belton, a former walk-on at Hampton before transferring to South Carolina in January of 2014, possesses good size. At 6-foot-4 and 209 pounds, Belton can be a mismatch against less-talented rosters. This week, he’ll be targeted a lot.
Belton leads the team in receptions and receiving yards this weekend.
2. Skai Moore does NOT lead the Gamecocks in tackles.
In an attempt to fix some of the issues that have plagued the Gamecocks on defense, co-defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward announced that junior Skai Moore will be moving to the WILL linebacker position while redshirt junior T.J. Holloman will step in at the MIKE position.
While the position change will allow Moore to use his speed more, it will take him out of a few stops in the middle of the field. Moore’s play will not diminish, but it will allow other players to get in on the action.
Moore has a great game, but for just the second time this season, does not lead the Gamecock defense in tackles.
3. Al Harris Jr. gets his first career interception.
How bad was sophomore cornerback Al Harris Jr. last week? Awful, dreadful *Insert synonym for bad here* This week, Harris Jr. will bounce back. He has an NFL pedigree and works hard, though his size is not ideal.
Against an overmatched UCF offense, Harris Jr. will have an opportunity, especially with corners Chris Lammons and Chaz Elder out with injuries and freshman Rashad Fenton suspended for the first half.
Co-defensive coordinator Jon Hoke has spoken often this week about disguising schemes better, but if South Carolina gets out to a lead, the cornerbacks will gain confidence and begin to finally creep toward the line of scrimmage and play more aggressively. If Harris Jr. can do that, he will become more of an asset than a liability in the defensive backfield.
Harris Jr. plays confidently Saturday and even snags his first career interception.