2018 South Carolina football preview

Only three players in the history of South Carolina football have been voted team captains as sophomores. Two were from last year: defensive lineman D.J. Wonnum, who led the team in sacks and tackles for loss, and quarterback Jake Bentley.

Wide receiver/returner Deebo Samuel can attest to Bentley’s character. Samuel was well on his way to being one of the most explosive players in the college game last year. He scored six touchdowns, including two 97-yard kickoff returns, in just three games before breaking his leg and missing the rest of the season.

“Day-in and day-out, Jake came in saying, ‘Hey Deebo, how are you doing?’” Samuel said at SEC Media Days this summer. “He’d go talk to the trainers to make sure I was doing the right thing to get back on the field.”

Bentley ranked fourth in the SEC in passing yards as a sophomore, but threw a dozen interceptions. Five of his six leading receivers are back for 2018, as is A.J. Turner, the team’s leading rusher.

Last year’s defense led the SEC in takeaways, but ranked 11th in sacks. Coach Will Muschamp said the defense must get more pressure from its four-man rushes.

The Gamecocks enter 2018 just outside the Top 25, and that hype will be put to the test early. South Carolina hosts defending SEC champion Georgia on Sept. 9, looking to prove it is a force to be reckoned with.

2018 schedule
Sept. 1 – Coastal Carolina
Sept. 8 – Georgia
Sept. 15 – Marshall
Sept. 22 – at Vanderbilt
Sept. 29 – at Kentucky
Oct. 6 – Missouri
Oct. 13 – Texas A&M
Oct. 27 – Tennessee
Nov. 3 – at Ole Miss
Nov. 10 – at Florida
Nov. 17 – Chattanooga
Nov. 24 – at Clemson

2017 record: 9-4 (5-3 conf./2nd in SEC East)
All-time SEC championships: 0
All-time bowl appearances: 22 (9-13)

2017 results
Sept. 2 – NC State* – W 35-28
Sept. 9 – at Missouri – W 31-13
Sept. 16 – Kentucky – L 23-13
Sept. 23 – Louisiana Tech – W 17-16
Sept. 30 – at Texas A&M – L 24-17
Oct. 7 – Arkansas – W 48-22
Oct. 14 – at Tennessee – W 15-9
Oct. 28 – Vanderbilt – W 34-27
Nov. 4 – at Georgia – L 24-10
Nov. 11 – Florida – W 28-20
Nov. 18 – Wofford – W 31-10
Nov. 25 – Clemson – L 34-10
Jan. 1 – Michigan+ – W 26-19
* Charlotte
+Outback Bowl

Returning statistical leaders

Rushing – Att – Yards – Avg – TD
A.J. Turner – 98 – 531 – 5.4 – 3
Passing – Comp-Att – INT – TD – Yards
Jake Bentley – 245-394 – 12 – 18 – 2794
Receiving – Rec – Yards – Avg – TD
Bryan Edwards – 64 – 793 – 12.4 – 5
Tackles – Total – INT – Sacks – TFL
T.J. Brunson – 88 – 0 – 2 – 4.5

Starters returning: 16
Offense: 8
Defense: 6
Specialty: 2

Starters lost: 8
Offense: 3
Defense: 5
Specialty: 0

Returning offensive starters: Zack Bailey (OL, Sr.), Jake Bentley (QB, Jr.), Dennis Daley (OL, Sr.), Bryan Edwards (WR, Jr.), OrTre Smith (WR, So.), Shi Smith (WR, So.), Donell Stanley (OL, Jr.), A.J. Turner (RB, Jr.)

Returning defensive starters: T.J. Brunson (LB, Jr.), Rashad Fenton (DB, Sr.), Javon Kinlaw (DL, Jr.), Keir Thomas (DL, Jr.), Jamyest Williams (DB, So.), D.J. Wonnum (DL, Jr.)