Spring check-ins: South Carolina?

South Carolina made an impressive run in 2024 when healthy. What powered the Gamecocks and can it power them to a better season in 2025?

Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks had a breakout season for the program in 2024, finishing 9-4 with a 5-3 record against a tough SEC schedule that might have been better still if quarterback LaNorris Sellers had been healthier earlier in the year.

They got a little bit of playoff buzz, although I think it would have been Alabama ahead of him had the SEC snuck another team in, and then the NFL Draft claimed five players.

LaNoris Sellers was not one of those five drafted players, which has lead to some hype and interest around the program. How important were those five drafted players to South Carolina and can the team reload at those positions well enough to build on the season and be a contender in 2025?

The very fact Sellers is on this team, he of the 166 carries for 674 rushing yards and seven touchdowns a year ago, makes you wonder if perhaps an SEC team could follow the Midwest blueprint for championship contention.

As a reminder, that blueprint is to build an overpowering run game paired with an elite defense. Sellers gives SC a head start, can they fill the other requirements?