As a lifelong fan of the South Carolina Gamecocks, I must say this is one of the hardest articles I have ever had to write. South Carolina’s star wide receiver Deebo Samuel exited Saturday night’s game against Kentucky with what seemed to be a very serious injury to his leg. It was initially reported that Samuel broke his leg and would most likely be out for the rest of the season. However, more recent reports (mainly from South Carolina based media) suggest it is merely a fracture and the Gamecocks star player will only be out of commission for 5 to 6 weeks. Whether it’s five games or the whole season, it is certainly going to be a challenge for South Carolina to carry on without this young man. So I figured I’d go ahead and address some questions that are almost certainly on the minds of Gamecocks fans.
SPOILER ALERT: I think the Gamecocks will be just fine. Anyways, on to the questions.
What offensive players will the Gamecocks rely on to replace Deebo Samuel?
There is no doubt in my mind that Deebo Samuel was the most talented player on this South Carolina offense, but that’s not to say he doesn’t have plenty of capable replacements. The first big target that pops into mind is preseason All-SEC First Team tight end Hayden Hurst, who has been known to cause trouble in the red zone. He only has one touchdown so far this season, but Coach Muschamp will certainly be looking to target him more as the season goes on. As far as wide receivers go, the Gamecocks will look to sophomore Bryan Edwards, freshman Shi Smith and freshman OrTre Smith. This young receiving core will need to ball out in order to make up for the absence of Deebo, but South Carolina fans will tell you that they are more than capable.
How will the absence of Deebo affect QB Jake Bentley
It will no doubt be a challenge for the young Jake Bentley to adjust to a receiving core lacking the big time playmaker that is Deebo Samuel. But, as mentioned above, he has plenty of offensive weapons to help him out. Both Freshman receivers Shi and OrTre smith were four-star recruits that garnered attention from many SEC schools before committing to Carolina. They will have to pick up right where Samuel left off. Sophomore Bryan Edwards, who caught four touchdown passes last season, will see his target rate increase dramatically and his 15 catches so far this season have certainly proved that he is up to the task.
The Gamecocks will also certainly be looking to run the ball a lot more in order to keep some pressure off Bentley. If sophomore running back Rico Dowdle is able to pick up consistent yards, it will keep opposing defenses on their toes and allow Bentley to take advantage of maladjusted defenses.
What Defensive players will have an impact on the Gamecocks’ season?
Skai Moore: The linebacker has been absolutely crucial to the Cocks defense this season, recording 22 tackles and one interception in three games. He is a central piece of the Gamecocks squad, from a physical standpoint as well as a leadership perspective.
TJ Brunson: Also a linebacker, the sophomore has wasted no time making a name for himself this season. He has already recorded 32 tackles (2nd most in the SEC). This will have to continue if this South Carolina defense wants to keep their teams in games against top SEC offenses.
Will the Gamecocks be alright with out Samuel?
……OF COURSE WE WILL BE FINE! As pointed out above, the Gamecocks have young talent for days this season. I trust that Coach Boom is more than capable of plugging in the right pieces to make sure they continue to attack this season full force. This recent loss to Kentucky was a minor setback for a major comeback… The Cocks 100% still have their sights set on winning the SEC East.
