The Daily Gamecock

Sports

Five strengths and weaknesses for South Carolina

By Kyle Heck | Aug. 28, 2013

South Carolina is once again gearing up for a season full of high expectations. After finishing last year in the top 10, there is nothing to suggest that the team can’t do the same this season. Sure, they lost tailback Marcus Lattimore for good, but the Gamecocks have had to make do without him for portions of the last two seasons. In addition, the defense took a hit with the loss of Devin Taylor, DeVonte Holloman and Shaq Wilson, but coach Steve Spurrier and company have done a good job over the last few years developing depth in all of the defensive positions. With that said, here are some “strengths” of the 2013 team and five “weaknesses.”

Trending Now

Send a Tip Get Our Email Editions

More from Sports

Mike Davis begins season as starter

By Kyle Heck | Aug. 28, 2013

For most of the summer, South Carolina fans did not know which tailback would be walking out onto the field first when the season started. Finally, at the end of fall camp, they learned that sophomore Mike Davis would start against North Carolina.

Behind enemy lines

Aug. 28, 2013

Daily Gamecock Sports Editor Kyle Heck had five questions about the upcoming matchup for Daily Tar Heel Sports Editor Brooke Pryor. Here are her answers.

New faces take over at linebacker

By Kyle Heck | Aug. 28, 2013

One of the biggest questions for South Carolina coming into the 2013 season was who would play linebacker. Last year, the linebacker and spur position was stockpiled with seniors including Devonte Holloman, Quin Smith, Shaq Wilson and Damario Jeffrey.

Defensive backfield returns key starters

By Danny Garrison | Aug. 28, 2013

South Carolina’s depth chart at the cornerback position this year can be best described as top-heavy. Redshirt senior Jimmy Legree and redshirt junior Victor Hampton, the projected starters at defensive back in secondary coach Grady Brown’s defensive backfield, combined to start 20 games last season.

Rory Anderson has received praise this offseason but will miss the first game with an injury sustained in pracitce.

Two starters to sit out opener

By Kyle Heck | Aug. 27, 2013

With just one day before the season opener, South Carolina’s injury report is becoming a little more certain. Coach Steve Spurrier said on his call-in show Tuesday that tight end Rory Anderson is officially ruled out of the game against North Carolina, but tight end Jerell Adams should be able to play. Spurrier said Adams has run around “decent” in practice the last few days.

Allden returns to Gamecock cross country

By Salvatore Costa | Aug. 27, 2013

Andrew Allden, USC’s new distances and cross country assistant coach, believes the cross country team has the potential to be a top-ranked program nationally. Allden, who has 27 years of coaching experience, coached at South Carolina from 1996 to 2001. During his stint in Columbia, Allden led the Gamecock cross country team to their best Southeastern Conference Championship finish in program history — No. 5 — in 1999.

Highly touted players such as junior defensive Jadeveon Clowney have helped draw nationally-ranked recruits to South Carolina.

Future recruiting classes take shape

By Kyle Heck | Aug. 27, 2013

While attention has been focused on the season opener against North Carolina, coach Steve Spurrier and his staff are quietly putting together a nice recruiting class for the next couple of years.

Women’s soccer to begin season today

By Danny Garrison | Aug. 23, 2013

When the South Carolina women’s soccer team kicks off its 2013 campaign Friday against UNC-Wilmington, the program will look to rebound from its first losing season since 2005 after finishing 7-10-4 in 2012.