South Carolina Football: Is There Reason to Hope?

(Photo by: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Reid McCollum saw some playing time in the spring game and was less than impressive. He seems to have plenty of potential, but just isn’t quite ready to play SEC football yet.

It will be interesting to see what Spurrier and quarterbacks coach G.A. Mangus do with this young player.

Freshman corner back Stephon Gilmore showed a lot of promise in early spring practices and the spring game. Coach Spurrier hopes to be able to get the ball into Gilmore’s hands more this season than in the spring game.

Brian Maddox, Moe Brown, Jarvis Giles, Joe Hills, Tori Gurley, Garrett Anderson, and Cedrick Snead are all names that fans should be prepared to hear this season as well.

These are all players that have shown improvements, or in the case of Giles and Gurley, promise.

With the new coaching lineup, an updated roster with strong returning players, and Spurrier’s desire to make this team more than mediocre, Gamecock fans should expect a very solid season from their team.

It may be hard for South Carolina to get an eight-win season in the SEC this year, but they should be very competitive.

There is no doubt that the talent needed for this team to make a good showing in their conference is there. What it is going to come down to is whether or not the players and coaches can bring enough effort and energy into the practices and games to push this team to its full potential.

Spurrier has successfully deflated the expectations of many this season with his less-than-impressed attitude toward his team after their spring scrimmages.

Don’t let that fool you, though.

Spurrier isn’t the type to lie down and die. He will expect a lot out of this South Carolina team, and so should their fans.

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