Game Plan: Looking ahead to 2020

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

Muschamp confident he can turn around struggling program

By Jeff Owens | Executive Editor A s Athletics Director Ray Tanner and university President Bob Caslen pledged their support for Will Muschamp as the 2019 season wound to a close, South Carolina’s head coach promised Gamecock fans he would turn around his struggling program.

“I’m a coach that has been a part of national championships and multiple conference championships and I plan on taking this program where it has never been before,” he said after a 30-6 loss to Texas A&M.

After going 22-17 from 2016-18, winning more games than any South Carolina head coach in his first seasons, Muschamp had his worst season in 2019 as the Gamecocks lost five of their last six games and finished 4-8. After a solid start in his first two seasons, Muschamp has gone 11-14 over the past two years and 5-10 over his last 15 games, leaving fans disgruntled and discouraged.

The poor finish to 2019 prompted Tanner and Caslen to issue a series of statements supporting South Carolina’s head coach and declaring he will return in 2020. Muschamp, in turn, vowed that things will get better. He started the rebuilding process by replacing three assistant coaches after the season and searching for a new offensive coordinator. “We are not as far off as people seem to think we are,” he said.

What gives him hope? “The effort that we had throughout the entire season, especially in the latter part of the season when things weren’t going very well,” he said. “The good, young talent that we have recruited, the good, young talent that we have coming. I see a lot of positive things that we are going to be very good. I feel very confident in that.”

Despite losing 26 seniors, including several key starters, Muschamp believes he can quickly make South Carolina an SEC contender again and plans to be around for a long time. “We have a really good, young roster coming back,” he said. “Do we need to address some things in our program? Yes, we will. I look forward to having a long tenure here at the University of South Carolina and coaching here for a long time and getting this thing turned. I look forward to the opportunity and the challenge.”

I see a lot of positive things that we are going to be very good. I feel very confident in that.

– WILL MUSCHAMP

Here’s a look at what he will have to work with next season and some key issues facing the 2020 team.

OFFENSE A key question is who will lead an offense that struggled most of the season and was the biggest problem during the late-season losing streak. Muschamp reassigned offensive coordinator Bryan McClendon after the season and was looking for a new play caller.

The Gamecocks averaged just 22 points and 372 yards per game and scored just 24 points combined in its final three games. They were 12th in the SEC and 104th nationally in scoring and 11th and 96th, respectively, in total offense.

Muschamp was hoping that quarterback Jake Bentley would return next year after missing all but one game of his senior season with a broken foot. Bentley announced after the season, however, that he would transfer to another school for his final season, leaving Ryan Hilinski as the starting quarterback.

Quarterback Hilinski took over in Week 2 and, after a solid start, had a rough freshman season. In 10 starts, he completed just 58 percent of his passes for 2,357 yards and 11 touchdowns. Though he did a good job protecting the ball (just five interceptions), he threw for fewer than 200 yards in six of his 11 starts. Beaten and battered due to a porous offensive line, he was constantly under attack and the victim of too many dropped passes. And with the Gamecocks struggling to establish the run, he had to throw the ball more than 50 times in three games, allowing defenses to tee off on him. It didn’t help when he lost star receiver Bryan Edwards for parts of the final three games.

Muschamp praised Hilinski for his maturity and toughness throughout the season and said he was thrown into a difficult situation after Bentley was lost for the year.

“He has progressed well. What we have asked him to do is very difficult,” he said. “There are times we need to play better around him and there are times he needs to play better. The bottom line is overall we need to improve.”

With Bentley gone, Hilinski will enter the offseason as the starting quarterback but will likely compete with other young options in the spring.

Running Back South Carolina loses four seniors in the backfield, including four-year starter Rico Dowdle. Grad transfer Tavien Feaster gave the Gamecocks a boost last year before missing two games to injury. Backups Mon Denson and A.J. Turner, who missed most of his final season due to injury, have also graduated.

The Gamecocks will return two players who showed flashes of potential in limited action. Kevin Harris rushed for 147 yards and three touchdowns against Charleston Southern and saw his playing time increase late in the season. Deshaun Fenwick rushed for 102 yards in his only significant playing time against Vanderbilt and has two 100-yard games in his first two seasons. The Gamecocks also need a healthy OrTre Smith, who has the size and hands to replace Edwards as a big target. Xavier Legette could also play a key role after getting extensive playing time in the last five games of the season.

Ryan Hilinski (3) | Photo by Jenny Dilworth

Kevin Harris (20) | Photo by SC Athletics

The duo could give South Carolina a solid 1-2 punch next season, while the Gamecocks are expected to get a boost from one of the top high school running backs in the country.

Feaster believes Harris and Fenwick are going to be good.

“Well, I know they have a guy coaching them [running backs coach Thomas Brown] that is going to lay it all on the line every day. He’s going to go out there and demand greatness from them,” he said. “Those three young guys are going to be great. You see the size and the ability they both have. I know they are going to do great things.”

Wide Receiver Edwards’ value to the offense last season was immeasurable. The school record holder in receptions and receiving yards, he meant as much to the South Carolina offense as Deebo Samuel did in his senior season in 2018. Fans saw just how crucial Edwards was to the offense when he missed the final two games.

Who will replace him as the go-to receiver?

There are options. Shi Smith, who has 117 career catches for 1,571 yards and nine touchdowns, is the team’s most talented receiver but he had a disappointing junior season with only 43 catches for 489 yards and two touchdowns. He missed two games with a hamstring injury and had just one big game, hauling in 11 passes for 156 yards at Tennessee. Smith must stay healthy and step up as a senior to give the offense a reliable option and its most explosive weapon.

Josh Vann also battled injuries last year and caught just 19 passes. He could be poised for a breakout season after getting plenty of reps as a freshman and sophomore.

Tight End Once he was finally ruled eligible, Nick Muse showed flashes of potential and was developing into a reliable pass catcher before tearing his ACL against Vanderbilt. If he is healthy and bounces back strong, he could give the Gamecocks their most dangerous option at tight end since Hayden Hurst.

Freshmen Traevon Kenion and KeShawn Toney both redshirted last year and should be ready to contribute.

Offensive Line This is the most important unit on the team after its struggles this year. South Carolina allowed 25 sacks and Gamecock quarterbacks were under heavy pressure from the season opener. The Gamecocks also struggled to run the ball, ranking ninth in the SEC.

South Carolina lost its most reliable offensive lineman in three-year starter Donell Stanley. Replacing his leadership and play-calling at center will be critical. It gets a boost, however, with the return of senior Sadarius Hutcherson, who decided to return for one more season.

Sophomore Dylan Wonnum, who made the SEC All-Freshman team in 2018, missed five games with injuries this season and struggled when he returned. A healthy Wonnum will return to the starting lineup at one of the tackle spots. Freshmen tackles Jakai Moore and Jaylen Nichols played well when Wonnum was out and should compete for a starting role next season.

Sophomore Jordan Rhodes and redshirt freshman Jovaughn Gwyn started at guard this year but both big men struggled. So did Eric Douglas, who filled in all across the line. All three should be better with a year of experience. Offensive line coach Eric Wolford also hopes Hank Manos is finally ready to contribute after struggling and battling injuries. There is also hope that another young line

man, maybe Vincent Murphy, is ready to play.

The offensive line must shore up its protection issues and open more holes for the running game for South Carolina to make significant progress on offense.

DEFENSE South Carolina’s defense was solid this season, despite getting worn down in several games due to an offense that couldn’t stay on the field. It proved its worth by shutting down Georgia in South Carolina’s 20-17 upset over the No. 3 Bulldogs.

Though the Gamecocks were just 11th in the SEC in total defense, most of that was due to being on the field almost six minutes per game longer than opposing defenses. They allowed 158 yards per game rushing (12th in the SEC), but held opponents to just 35 percent on third down (as opposed to just 32 percent for the South Carolina offense) and had a turnover margin of +5.

But the Gamecocks will lose some of their most outstanding players on defense, including three-year starters in D.J. Wonnum and T.J. Brunson and projected first-round draft pick Javon Kinlaw. How they replace those stalwarts will determine whether it can repeat or improve on this year’s performance. are going to be as good as they want to be.”

A key will be developing depth behind them. Jabari Ellis saw limited time this year and the Gamecocks could get a big boost from two returning players. Keir Thomas is a two-year starter with 106 career tackles but missed almost all of this season with an infection caused by ankle surgery. He could start at either defensive tackle or defensive end and provide depth at both positions. Junior college transfer Devontae Davis will also be back after missing the season with an injury.

The Gamecocks have depth and talent at defensive end. Starter Aaron Sterling had six sacks and 10 tackles for loss this season while J.J. Enagbare was also a disruptive force and productive pass rusher. Senior Brad Johnson will also be back after missing much of this season while redshirt freshman Joseph Anderson may be ready to help. Kinlaw believes the defensive line could be just as good as this season. “They are going to hold it down. They are going to know what to do when their time comes. They are just young right now,” he said. “They just need time to develop. … The more they play and the more they just lock in and buy into the program, they are going to be alright and hold it down.”

Linebacker The Gamecocks lose a three-year starter in Brunson but return one of the best linebackers in the SEC in Ernest Jones. As a sophomore, Jones led the Gamecocks with 97 tackles, intercepted two passes and did an outstanding job calling the defense as the Mike linebacker.

Sherrod Greene was a parttime starter this season and had 6.5 tackles for loss. He should be poised to take over Brunson’s role. Damani Staley is a veteran who has gotten significant playing time in his first three seasons and Jahmar Brown flashed big-time potential as a freshman. Rodricus Fitten may also be ready to help after redshirting.

Defensive Line The strength of the team this year, South Carolina will miss Kinlaw and Kobe Smith in the middle and Wonnum on the edge. Kinlaw led the team with six sacks and emerged as one of the best defensive linemen in the country, while Wonnum finished his career ninth in school history in tackles for loss.

Zacch Pickens and Rick Sandidge backed up Kinlaw and Smith and Kinlaw believes the two will be stars at defensive tackle.

“Especially with [Pickens], it’s scary man. He’s going to be as good as he wants to be,” he said. “He’s crazy athletic, fast and powerful. He’s just got to take care of the little things. The little things are just what’s holding him back. [Sandidge], same thing. Both of those guys

Rick Sandidge Jr. (90) | Photo by SC Athletics

Secondary This may be the strength of the team next year with four returning starters and a wealth of young talent. The secondary allowed 235 yards per game and had some ugly performances (Alabama, Tennessee), but also had nine of the team’s 12 interceptions and four of the team’s top six tacklers.

Jaycee Horn and Israel Mukuamu developed into solid corners. Mukuamu had four picks (three against Georgia) while Horn emerged as the shutdown defender South Carolina needs in the secondary. Developing depth and a nickelback will be key next season.

The Gamecocks lost safety J.T. Ibe but return two players who were solid on the back end in R.J. Roderick, a two-year starter, and freshman Jammie Robinson, who was third on the team in tackles playing both safety and nickel.

South Carolina has three more talented young defensive backs who got some experience in Cam Smith, John Dixon and Shiloh Sanders. All three should be ready to step into key roles next season.

Horn believes the secondary will be much better next season. “We played the whole season together this year so there’s obviously a lot of chemistry coming back and you’re going to see a lot of familiar faces on the back end,” he said. “Overall, I think it’ll be a great connection, we just need to put in the work.”

Special Teams Parker White, who turned into a reliable kicker (18-of-22 on field goals), will be back for his senior year, but South Carolina must replace one of the best punters in the country in Joseph Charlton. That will be no easy task.

For the first time in three years, South Carolina did not return a kick for a touchdown last year. Shi Smith had a 60-yarder and Legette had a 50-yarder but neither had many opportunities. The Gamecocks must also find a reliable replacement for Edwards as the punt returner.

Jake Bentley and Will Muschamp | Photo by Jenny Dilworth

SENIOR SUPERLATIVES

Will Muschamp greeted and hugged each of his 26 seniors as they were honored on the field prior to the Appalachian State game Nov. 9.

Each of those moments were special for the South Carolina head coach. But none more so than his moment with former starting quarterback Jake Bentley, who was lost for the season with a broken foot he suffered in the season opener. Bentley announced on Dec. 2 that he will not return next season, choosing to transfer to another school after graduating from South Carolina in December.

“Extremely disappointed that his senior year was taken away. I hurt for him and his family [because] he’s done so much for the Univeristy of South Carolina and our football program,” Muschamp said. “Jake has been very special to me personally [for] the contributions he has made to this program. … I appreciate everything he has done.”

The 2019 senior class is special to Muschamp because it features 10 players, including Bentley, from his first South Carolina recruiting class. T.J. Brunson and Bryan Edwards were the first two players Muschamp recruited, while Javon Kinlaw, D.J. Wonnum and Rico Dowdle also emerged as stars.

Seven others, including starters Donell Stanley, Kyle Markway and Joseph Charlton, were here when Muschamp arrived. Five of them, including Markway and starting offensive lineman Sadarius Hutcherson, have a year of eligibility remaining and could return for one more season. Hutcherson announced Muschamp honors special senior class By Jeff Owens | Executive Editor the day after the season finale that he would return.

Muschamp also singled out players like Kiel Pollard and A.J. Turner, who, like Bentley, suffered injuries that derailed their senior seasons. Pollard suffered a neck injury in training camp and had to retire from football. Turner, a key player the past three seasons, also suffered an injury in training camp and was hampered all season by a nagging hamstring injury.

“It just breaks your heart,” he said. “Their senior years have not gone the way they should have, but life’s not fair and you have to handle it and adjust and move on and those three guys have handled things the right way.”

Of the 26 seniors, 22 have already graduated, including 11 in December. The final three will gradaute in May of 2020. Six of them will leave South Carolina with multiple degrees, like defensive end Danny Fennell, who earned his graduate degree from the international business school in December. “They have all been integral parts of our program in these four years. [They’ve] done a fantatisc job of setting a great example of how we need to do things the right way,” Muschamp said.

This class will always be special to Muschamp because it was his first. He takes great pride in not only their accomplishments on the field — three straight bowl games, a 9-4 record in 2018 — but off the field as well. His team had a cumuluative GPA of 3.0 in backto-back semesters last fall and this spring.

“I appreciate their contributions. A lot of very positive things,” he said. “I’m disappointed from a team standpoint that we haven’t exactly had the year we wanted to have and we anticipated to have. It’s been very inconsistent, and that’s on me, but very proud of their accomplishments here at South Carolina.”

No one appreciates the group and Muschamp more than Kinlaw, who spent a year at a Mississippi junior college before emerging as a star and potential first-round draft pick at South Carolina.

“It’s like a band of brothers,” he said. “I came in with these guys and knowing these guys for so long and just seeing them all the time, they really became my family over time.”

The team’s underclassmen also appreciate this year’s seniors and the leadership they provided during a difficult 4-8 season.

“I look to my left and my right and I won’t see T.J. or I look down and Javon will be gone or D.J. [Wonnum] will be gone,” sophomore linebacker Ernest Jones said. “You just cherish every moment you get with these guys and get to play with them, because before you know it they will be out the door and somebody else will be in their spot.”

JAVON KINLAW W hen Javon Kinlaw is asked what motivates him, the 6-6, 310-pound defensive tackle has a quick answer. “My child,” he said. “Just because I got to provide for her, nobody else can. I just have to make it happen.”

Eden Amara Kinlaw was born in April and is the light of Kinlaw’s life. The birth of his daughter is what pushed him to have a big senior season, one that earned him an invitation to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl and has him projected to be a first-round pick in the next NFL Draft.

Kinlaw jokes that he must make it to the NFL to afford to feed her. “She’s huge,” he said in November. “She just turned seven months, she wears a size 4 shoe, she’s about 22 pounds.”

Kinlaw had a dominant senior season, leading the Gamecock defense in sacks and emerging as one of the best defensive linemen in the country. But there is nothing he loves more than seeing his daughter at his games. He enjoys taking her on a stroll around Williams-Brice Stadium, especially after a Gamecock victory.

“It’s definitely special, just being able to walk around with her,” he said. “I tell her, ‘You see all these folks who love your daddy.’ That’s what I tell her because where I come from, there’s nothing like that. Just having people tell you ‘good job, good job’ and things like that, it’s really important. I thank all the fans all the time because, shoot, growing up [I did not] have nobody tell you that you’re worth anything.”

— Jeff Owens

BRYAN EDWARDS W ill Muschamp has praised Bryan Edwards so much over the past four years he almost ran out of accolades to bestow on one of the greatest wide receivers in South Carolina history.

“Well, I don’t know what else to say. He is a better young man than he is football player,” Muschamp said late in the 2019 season. “He’s meant a lot to this program. [He’s among] some of the greatest receivers that have ever played the game when you talk in terms of some of the guys that have come through this program. … [He’s] very deserving of any accolades he gets.”

Despite missing the final two games with a knee injury, Edwards led the Gamecocks in receiving with 71 catches for 816 yards and six touchdowns. A four-year starter, he finished his career with 234 receptions for 3,045 yards, both school records. His 22 receiving touchdowns is third on the all-time list. He was one of three Gamecocks invited to play in the prestigious Reese’s Senior Bowl.

As the season wound to a close, the humble Edwards was not concerned about setting another school record or reflecting on his accomplishments, only getting ready for the next game.

“I’ll appreciate it after the season, right now I’m trying to get ready for this week,” he said.

“You see how he’s competing on game day, that’s the way he does in practice, that’s the way he represents himself, our university, our program, his family,” Muschamp said. “He is a first-class teammate, human being and is about all the right things you want at the University of South Carolina.”

Edwards has exemplified that type of focus and professionalism throughout his four-year career.

“I just try to come out here and be myself every day,” he said. “I’m not worried about pressure or what people think or what people say. All I’m doing is controlling what I can control and that’s my effort and how I come to work every day.

“I always take pride in the way I carry myself and the way other people look at me. I’m just constantly being me. I can’t be any other way.”

— Jeff Owens

Photo by Allen Sharpe

Photo by SC Athletics