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THE GAMECOCK WWW.DAILYGAMECOCK.COM SINCE 1908 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mary Ramsey MANAGING EDITORS Erin Metcalf, Victoria Richman DESIGN DIRECTOR Erin Slowey COPY DESK CHIEF Maria Jutton SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Gillian Munoz PHOTO EDITORS Sara Yang, Shreyas Saboo ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Zach McKinley NEWS EDITORS Meghan Crum, Hannah Dear SENIOR NEWS WRITER Arunmani Phravorachith ARTS & CULTURE EDITORS Genna Contino, Taylor Washington OPINION EDITORS Jared Bailey, Dan Nelson SPORTS EDITOR Shelby Beckler ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITORS Josh German, Nick Papadimas SENIOR DESIGNER Taylor Sharkey DESIGNERS Brandi Sanichar, Conner Greenberg, Madeline Farris, States Beall SENIOR COPY EDITORS Rita Naidu Ellie Lord COPY EDITORS Claudia Crowe Joe McLean FACULTY ADVISOR Doug Fisher
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The Daily Gamecock is the editorially independent student newspaper of the University of South Carolina. It is published once a week during the fall and spring semesters with the exception of university holidays and exam periods. Opinions expressed in The Gamecock are those of editors or author and not those of the University of South Carolina. The Board of Student Publications and Communications is the publisher of The Gamecock. The Department of Student
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LELAND MCELVEEN // THE GAMECOCK
THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2018
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LETTER FROM THE SPORTS EDITOR
ZACH MCKINLEY // THE GAMECOCK
The time has come again for “Sandstorm” to blast through Williams-Brice Stadium, with screaming fans dressed in garnet, white and black packing the student section. Come Saturday, they’ll be shouting “go Gamecocks” with their rally towels flying around. Last year was the first time in three years that South Carolina managed to keep a record above 7-6, reigniting the football buzz in to Columbia. This year brings a new mindset for the Gamecocks as they have recovered from several injuries and setbacks over the past few seasons. With the return of wide receiver Deebo Samuel, the anticipation is at an all-time high for what the offense is capable of this season. Samuel has already been named to the ESPN 2018 preseason first-team All-American squad and to the 2018 preseason Associated Press second-team All-American unit. Samuel be a huge contributor to the offensive scheme, and he’ll also have Bryan Edwards, Shi Smith and Ortre Smith to work with. That level of internal competition, with four elite players competing for opportunities, can really shake things up. Head coach Will Muschamp has developed a deeper dynamic during his first two years. Muchamp led his team to a 9-4 season in 2017, raising expectations for this season. On defense, the Gamecocks have a solid depth line. South Carolina’s defensive linemen
Keir Thomas, Aaron Sterling, Javon Kinlaw and D.J. Wonnum are said to be some of Muschamp’s secure returners. Gamecock Nation can find comfort in having the first three games at WilliamsBrice. South Carolina will open its season against Coastal Carolina on Sept. 1 and follow with the reigning SEC East champions, Georgia, on Sept. 8. From there, the competition continues for the Gamecocks. The Gamecocks hope to end their four-game game losing streak on the road against Kentucky on Sept. 29 and will try to take down rival Clemson, who have become a powerhouse over the past three seasons. This special edition of The Gamecock is filled with much information on what is to come for South Carolina football and provides a guide to gamedays. In addition, this preview gives you insight on new freshman players and how to access the updated ticketing process. Although the first game is at noon, I hope you bring the same energy that you brought last year to help prove why USC has one of the best student sections in the country. No matter what the outcome is this season, I hope that you use this preview as a guide to educate yourself on South Carolina football and get pumped up, because football Saturdays in South Carolina are almost back. -Shelby Beckler, sports editor
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Bentley and Samuel back in action VICTORIA RICHMAN // THE GAMECOCK
Shelby Beckler @sbeckler13
There is noticeable difference in the relationship between players who have endured the same struggles and made the same sacrifices as they grow together. South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley and wide receiver Deebo Samuel have that dynamic. From junior league ball to Williams-Brice Stadium, these two collegiate athletes have a chemistry that has been unstoppable on both sides of the ball. “Me and Jake have been knowing each other since he was in the ninth grade,” Samuel said. “I mean we played against each other in the 7-on-7 tournament
at Williams-Brice. That is when I first met him and he’s been growing ever since then, ever since I played in an All-American game with his older brother so we had time to talk then. Then when we came to South Carolina, I mean we already had chemistry so I thought it’s better for us.” That chemistry was missing from the field last season when Samuel suffered an injury and missed the majority of the season. Now that Samuel is back, his health is his main priority. “The only goal that I have set for myself is to stay healthy,” Samuel said. With Samuel’s return, the offense scheme can reach its full potential. That gives Bentley the opportunity to be more versatile with the ball. Bentley looks to spin off of Samuel’s explosiveness and use their bond to make an impact. “I think it allows us to be a lot more multiple with him,” Bentley said. “And I think that we’re gonna do a lot of cool things this year with him. Just being a special talent, just getting the ball in his hands anyway that we can. He might even throw us some
touchdowns this year.” These top offensive players for the Gamecocks will be put to the test as South Carolina prepares for another competitive season, but even though Bentley and Samuel have to focus on their roles as leaders, they never lose sight of being great friends and teammates. “Day in and day out, you’ll see Jake come in there and be like ‘Deebo how are you doing?’” Samuel said. “And then he’ll go talk to the trainers, making sure I’m doing the right thing that I need to do to get back on the field.” Samuel credits Bentley’s discipline on offense with helping lead the Gamecocks against top SEC competitors. “You get the same thing off the field that you do if you get on the field. You get a leader. You get a hard worker. You get a guy that loves the game. Jake Bentley, he’s a really good guy and ... a good quarterback and he controls the offense.” This dynamic offensive duo will have to live up to expectations this year to stand out in the SEC and regain focus with Samuel back in action.
Muschamp feeling confident ahead of year three Joe McLean @joemclean97
When Will Muschamp was first hired as the South Carolina head football coach in December 2015, one of the things he was criticized for was his short stint as the head football coach at the University of Florida. During his time in Gainesville, Muschamp complied a 28-21 overall record with a 17-15 record in the SEC. On top of the team’s struggles, Muschamp was easily angered and was often shown being frustrated at players and other coaches on the sideline. This persona has given him the name “Coach Boom.” But in a recent interview with ESPN’s Marty Smith and Ryan McGee, Muschamp says how and why he has changed as a coach since his early days at Florida. “I equate coaching a lot like playing. And when you’re a freshman, that stuff’s moving fast, man,” said Muschamp. “It’s a fast game. In your first year as a head coach, it’s moving fast.”
Muschamp also explains how working under Nick Saban on a national championship-winning staff at LSU helped him mold himself into the coach that he is today at South Carolina. “One of the great things that Nick [Saban] does is anticipation of issues, anticipating an issue on the team ... on the staff, he really does a good job with that,” said Muschamp. Muschamp emphasized that adapting and learning as a head football coach in the SEC is not something that is not teachable. It has also allowed him to have a better grasp of everything going on as he enters his third year at South Carolina. “That comes with experience,” says Muschamp, “and I feel much more comfortable as far as those things are concerned of anticipating situations when they come and then feeling more in control of our program than maybe before.” So far during his tenure in Columbia, Muschamp has shown that he has improved on himself and has become more comfortable in his position.
When he was hired by South Carolina, Muschamp inherited a program that had just finished one of its worst seasons in school history. In 2015, the Gamecocks finished with a 3-9 record, including a loss to the Citadel at home. Legendary coach Steve Spurrier also resigned midway through the season. Since Muschamp arrived, he has exceeded expectations. In 2016, the Gamecocks went 6-7, doubling their win total from 2015. The next year the Gamecocks improved their win total by three once again to finish the season at 9-4 with an Outback Bowl victory over Michigan. South Carolina is the only school in the Power Five to increase its win total by three for two straight seasons. The expectations were already high for the 2018 football season. After Muschamp’s comments on the SEC Network, the bar has been raised even higher in a pivotal year for both Coach Boom and the South Carolina football program.
VICTORIA RICHMAN // THE GAMECOCK
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NEW PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2018 SEASON Freshmen look to make early impact
Shelby Beckler @sbeckler13
New talent has arrived in South Carolina for this season of Gamecock football, building an even stronger roster. With the loss of solid offensive and defensive players, the Gamecocks will rely on the 20 new freshmen players to step up.
Freshman Dakereon Joyner is a four-star dual threat quarterback for South Carolina. Joyner enrolled at South Carolina in January after graduating early from high school. This true freshman brings much to the table even though his position is already filled. Head coach Will Muschamp and offensive coordinator Bryan McClendon are confident in Joyner being a quarterback. Muschamp believes that he has the full potential to be the starting quarterback for the Gamecocks during his collegiate career. “He has higher expectations in himself than anyone in the room,” Muschamp said. “He’s progressing extremely well ... I think Dakereon has a very bright future at the quarterback position here at South Carolina.” Not only are eyes on Joyner, but also D y l a n Wo n n u m , a four-star tackle for the Gamecocks. Wonnum is already familiar to the ropes of South Carolina as he joins his brother D.J. Wonnum, who led the Gamecocks in sacks last season. Even with his brother as a future teammate, @shoprevente
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the choice to come to South Carolina was ultimately Dylan Wonnum’s decision. “I’m not going there for him,” Dylan Wonnum said. “I’m going there for me, to better me.” Dylan Wonnum is South Carolina’s secondhighest ranked signee ranked at No. 148 nationally. In addition, he is the No. 12 offensive tackle in the class of 2018. “[Dylan is] very athletic, has great balance and body control, and is a guy that, from a protection standpoint, can set the edge and can play right or left tackle,” Muschamp said. Defensively for South Carolina, tackle Rick Sandidge has already made a powerful impression. He hopes that the coaches can teach him more things about defensive tackle and defensive end. Sandidge wants the South Carolina coaches to help develop his skill set in everything. With much optimism, this 6’5,” 288 pound freshman should have no problem transitioning. “He can obviously anchor, but he has wiggle enough to be able to slide out and play end in our regular package, very similar to what we’ve done with some guys before,” Muschamp said. “He’s an athletic big man that can run, that can push the pocket.” Muschamp and his coaching staff have high expectations for these new players, but understand that they will take some time adjusting to the ways of South Carolina. “You know, these guys go through so much,” Muschamp said. “New coach, new system, new atmosphere, they have stuff going on at home, I mean they are going through a lot ... I think sometimes it has zero to do with ability. So I am excited to see all of them play, and we will determine who is going to be helping our team.”
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Allen-Williams returns from shoulder injury for fifth season Nick Papadimas @ngpaps
After his 2017 season was cut short by a season-ending shoulder injury against Kentucky, linebacker Bryson Allen-Williams will be returning to the Gamecocks lineup for his fifth and final season of eligibility this fall. With 40 games and 13 starts under his belt since 2014, he brings veteran leadership to the table and will provide support in a position otherwise staffed by young players in 2018. South Carolina will have eight underclassmen at linebacker this fall – five freshmen and three sophomores. “Bryson Allen-Williams is probably our best edge rusher,” said head coach Will Muschamp. “It really hurt us last year when we lost Bryson. We lost a lot of speed of the edge and a guy that can really threaten a tackle with speed. He’s a guy coming back that will play the sam and the buck for us.” Along with Allen-Williams, senior Eldridge Thompson and junior T.J. Brunson will be the sole upperclassmen on the roster this fall at linebacker. Brunson has one more season of NCAA eligibility, so Allen-Williams has worked to shift the team’s vocal leadership on defense over to him for 2018. “T.J. is the vocal leader ... Just telling him some of the things that I see, but I let him run the show ...,” he said. “Since I’ve been here, we had one of our best defenses last year with him in the middle. My job is just to come in, help, and be a boost to him and not try to step on anybody’s toes. Come back and do what I do, get back to playing the game that I know how to play while helping my team this year.” In February, Allen-Williams was
named to the SEC Leadership Council for the first time in his collegiate career alongside Louisiana State deep snapper Blake Ferguson. During the summer, he attended the SEC’s Spring Meetings and met with the conference’s top executives – including Commissioner Greg Sankey. “As far as resume building, I feel like the Leadership Council helped me with that as well because Commissioner Sankey knows me by name,” he said. “A lot of the executives over there at the SEC know me by name, just knowing me based off the conversations that I’ve had around there so they appreciated my contributions to the group, so I appreciate them for having me.” Going into the season and reflecting on his experiences at the SEC Spring Meetings, Allen-Williams is focused on leadership, which he hopes will help him in his veteran role. He says he’s more conscious of issues that face student athletes. “There’s so much that I learned but I could say for me, personally, it’s just knowing how to judge people,” Allen-Williams said. “Mental health is one of the big things that they talked about this year, which is one of the big problems that a lot of people had in the conference when they talk about mental health and I just think it’s just learning some of the techniques that they had as far as being able to address people, being approachable. A lot of the times leaders are seen as people who are bigger than life or too big to actually get to the level of the people that they’re around and I feel like that helped me out a lot. Being able to understand if you are a leader, if you are a person you’ve got to make sure you hold yourself accountable every day but you’ve also got to be open and willing to listen to people.” VICTORIA RICHMAN // THE GAMECOCK
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Gamecock football transitions to fully-mobile student ticketing Hannah Dear @HannahCDear
The Gamecock Student Rewards app is looking to make student ticketing more streamlined with mobile ticketing for the upcoming football game against Coastal Carolina. “This is exactly what we envisioned when we set out to make our athletic ticketing process easier for students,” said student ticketing manager Patrick Flynn in a press release. Through collaboration between Student Government, Student Ticketing and the University of South Carolina Athletics Department, students are able to request and receive football tickets through the updated Gamecock Student Rewards app. “When developing our new all mobile student ticketing offering with our partner, Experience, we focused on convenience and simplicity for our students. With just a few taps on their mobile device, students can get their tickets and enter the venue,” Flynn said. The request and claim system will remain online like in past y e a r s . H o w e v e r, t h e new Gamecock Student Rewards app streamlines the process. In order to request football tickets, students will need to download the app and select “Request S t u d e n t Ti c k e t . ” O n
Wednesday, students who are awarded a ticket will be notified, and their ticket will be delivered via text on gameday. Athletics officials advise students with iPhones to download their ticket to the Apple Wallet app. All students are asked to already have their ticket pulled up when they get in line in order to avoid delays. Students will no longer need to have their Carolina Card scanned to get into games. Still, students are advised to still bring their Carolina Card to the game because officials can ask to see it at anytime.
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EXPECTATIONS HIGH THROUGHOUT SUMMER PRACTICE Joe McLean @joemclean97
After becoming the seventh team in program history to win nine games, winning the program’s ninth-ever bowl game and finishing second in the SEC East in 2017, the expectations for the South Carolina Gamecocks are at an all-time high for this football season.
T h a t d o e s n ’t b o t h e r t h e Gamecocks, who were picked to finish second in the SEC East division once again in 2018. Veteran players such as Jake Bentley, Deebo Samuel and Bryson Allen-Williams spoke to media members at Williams-Brice Stadium on the first day of fall camp. They all emphasized that staying focused and having a successful training
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camp is key to meeting those expectations. “For our team, we think we have something special here,” said Bentley at Media Day. “Mindset wise, ... everyone knows what it takes to win, and that starts with having a great training camp.” The players are aware of what is expected of them in 2018, and they are all determined to not get
distracted and to embrace what is in front of them. “That’s one thing our leaders do ... keeping guys focused on what’s going on in house, and to not get really caught up into what anybody says or predicts,” said Bentley. SEE EXPECTATIONS PAGE 15
VICTORIA RICHMAN // THE GAMECOCK
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FROM EXPECTATIONS PAGE 14
“We know ... the expectations we have for ourselves.” Senior wide receiver Deebo Samuel and senior linebacker Bryson Allen-Williams echoed the same statements as Bentley. “We have a good group of leaders on this team and it keeps the whole team level-headed, don’t feed into the media,” said Samuel. “It’s all about what we got here and what we gonna do out there on the field.” Allen-Williams reiterated that having a successful training camp before the season even kicks off is what’s most important and is what can dictate a season of
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higher expectations. “Good teams focus on training camp, you take it one step at a time,” said Allen-Williams. “For us, if we dominate training camp and we worry about South Carolina and we make sure we’re the best South Carolina ... we can play with anybody ... If we handle that ... the season will take care of itself.” The Gamecocks will practice 23 times throughout the month of August before kicking off the season against Coastal Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium on Sept.1 at noon.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2018 SARA YANG // THE GAMECOCK
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM GEORGIA’S OFFENSE Josh German @jgerms20
O
ne of South Carolina’s biggest tests of the year comes early in the season when the Georgia Bulldogs, the defending SEC champions, travel to Columbia in September. Georgia recently finished just short of a national championship in one of their best seasons in recent history. With that season to live up to, the Bulldogs are locked in for another strong year in season two of the Kirby Smart era. Even with the losses of major contributors on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, the Bulldogs have an immense level of talent. Between new recruits and players waiting to take their turn on the field, the Bulldogs have reloaded. They lead the conference with 12 players on the Preseason
Coaches’ All- SEC team. The Gamecocks will have their hands full looking to pull off an early season upset of the AP preseason No. 3 team in the nation when Georgia comes to town. Led by second-year quarterback Jake Fromm, Georgia’s offense is looking to repeat its dominance from years past. The team will likely use its popular run heavy strategy which wears teams down as the game progresses. With the loss of two of the nation’s best tailbacks from last season, Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, the Dawgs’ rushing attack will take a hit from an individual standpoint. However, the players that are slated to step up and fill their roles are no slouches. Sophomore running back D’Andre Swift saw his fair share of playing time as a freshman, even with two NFL caliber running backs in line in front of him. With limited snaps, he produced last
season. As a starter this season, he will garner full attention from every defense that the Bulldogs will face. Following Swift in the stable of backs that Georgia has become accustomed to having are the likes of junior Elijah Holyfield and five-star true freshman James Cook (brother of NFL and former Florida State standout, Dalvin Cook). These standouts will look to makeup for the loss of former No. 1 player in the country and five-star running back, Zamir White, who is out for the season after suffering an ACL tear. These backs will undoubtedly be the focus of the Bulldog’s offense, especially since they will be running behind one of the best offensive lines in the nation. The offensive line returns four of five starters from last year’s championship team and adds a trio of five-star freshman linemen to the mix. The receiver position for the
Bulldogs is the most questionable out of the offensive groups. That being said, there are guys that can make a play whenever needed for the Dawgs. Losing big-bodied receiver Javon Wims is a hit, but an extra year of development and more targets will be just what the duo of Terry Godwin and Mecole Hardman need to turn into even bigger playmakers than they were last year. Tight end Isaac Nauta will benefit from another year of learning the system as well and should see more opportunities as the season advances. How the Gamecocks matchup: The biggest causes for concern for South Carolina will be dealing with Georgia’s offensive line and curtailing the athletes coming out of the backfield. While stopping the Georgia SEE OFFENSE PAGE 24
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WHAT TO EXPECT FROM GEORGIA’S DEFENSE
Josh German @jgerms20
T
he Georgia Bulldogs lost key players on both sides of the ball, but the defensive group took the biggest hit. After losing key contributors to the side that made the 2017 Georgia team so tough to beat, the Bulldogs have had to rebuild their team. The biggest loss is that of All-American Roquan Smith. Smith anchored the Georgia defense and brought a tenacity and fire that made the Bulldogs the No. 6 defense in all of college football. Add in the departures
SARA YANG // THE GAMECOCK
of key contributors Lorenzo Carter, Davin Bellamy, Trenton Thompson and John Atkins, and the 2018 Georgia defense will look a lot different than that of the 2017 SEC champions’. However, there are a number of standout defensive players to watch during the Bulldogs’ season. That list is headlined by Deandre Baker, the senior cornerback who decided to return to Athens despite being projected as an early round pick in this past year’s NFL draft. Baker has the size and coverage ability to blanket any receiver that lines up against him. He proved this in the national title game when he held the Alabama
quarterbacks to a 3.1 passer rating while they targeting him and managed to come up with an interception as well. Baker leads a secondary that is young and inexperienced but overflowing with raw talent. Another name to watch on the Georgia defense is that of true freshman outside linebacker Brenton Cox. The former fivestar recruit has all the potential timpact plays in the backfield in pass rush situations given his speed off the snap and the power to catch any blocker in sight off SEE DEFENSE PAGE 28
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VICTORIA RICHMAN // THE GAMECOCK
McClendon expected to make impact as offensive coordinator Josh German @jgerms20
With the start of the season right around the corner, expectations for a more productive and efficient offense will be placed on new
offensive coordinator, Bryan McClendon. Previously in charge of the wide receiving core, McClendon took over the reins of the offense after Kurt Roper was fired from the job before the Outback Bowl against Michigan
last year. In a game that resulted in a 2619 victory for the Gamecocks, fans got a glimpse of what a new SEE MCCLENDON PAGE 20
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2018
A GUIDE TO GAME DAYS THE CAROLINA WAY Joe McLean @joemclean97
atmospheres in the SEC. This tradition is amplified when the Gamecocks play at night. No matter how many A S a t u r d a y a t Wi l l i a m s games you’ve seen, it’s a part Brice Stadium with over 80,000 of game day that never gets other Gamecock fans is unlike old. any other. The atmosphere 2001: and pageantry of game day in This tradition is almost Columbia is considered one of impossible to explain — you the best not only in the SEC, but have to see it to believe it. in the country. That being said, It began in 1983, and is as it can be overwhelming, so here popular as ever. There is is what you need to know before nothing like hearing “2001: the season opener on Sept. 1. A Space Odyssey” with Tailgating: everyone waving their white Other than the game itself, towels in the air. With Cocky tailgating is a major part of at midfield, and the team anyone’s game day experience. running out through smoke Luckily, there are lots of options and with fire towers above within walking distance to the them, it’s almost impossible stadium. Some of the most to not have chills up your popular spots are the fraternity spine. You’ll want to be in lots and Memorial Lot. Both your seat early to experience VALENCIA ABRAHAM // THE GAMECOCK of these are a short walk from arguably the best part of Williams-Brice and have the South Carolina color guard member performs before the Gamecocks 2017 game against Wofford. game day. traditional tailgating scene that Alma Mater: you would expect at an SEC school. For those After every game, the players and fans sing looking for a more laid-back atmosphere, the fans before the game. the alma mater, regardless of the score. Fans will Fairgrounds are another good choice. These Sandstorm: put their arms around each other and sway as lots are directly across from the stadium in a It’s not gameday without “Sandstorm.” This they sing the university’s alma mater. If you’re perfect location. These spots aren’t available hit song from 2000 is played after the Gamecocks a freshman and don’t know the words the words for the Missouri and Texas A&M games due to score, during key moments and at the start of the yet, don’t worry — you should catch on pretty the fair in town, but it is still a good choice for game before kick off. Whenever Sandstorm blares quickly. At the end, everyone raises their right those looking for convenience and for a quieter through the stadium loudspeakers, fans wave hand as if making a toast while singing the last tailgate. No matter which lot you go to, you can their white towels in the air, and chant “USC! verse, “Here’s a health Carolina, forever to thee!” expect to have a good time with fellow Gamecock USC! USC!” creating one of the most unique
FROM MCCLENDON PAGE 4
and improved offense could look like under McClendon. His leadership in that comeback win secured his new position. However, with just one game to go from, it’s difficult to pinpoint the philosophy that should be expected on Saturdays for this season. Michigan
had one of the best defenses in the country last year, and the game itself was a tale of two halves. Nonetheless, McClendon won many fans over with his second half strategy. McClendon’s experience is with the receiving group, and he was the main recruiter for the athletes in line to have the ball in their hands in his offense. Fans can expect him
to feature them in ways that display their talents. Whether it be the ability to make a man miss in open space or even just highlighting a guy’s toughness and willingness to block for other teammates, McClendon is known for getting the best out of his players and putting them in positions to make winning plays. The hope for the Gamecocks is that continues
as he moves up a rank to offensive coordinator. A quick paced offense will give ample opportunities to a number of weapons on the Gamecocks’ offense this year. McClendon hopes spreading the ball around will help the cohesion and explosiveness of the unit and their ability to keep defenses guessing.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2018
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 21
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Welcome Back USC Students! Opportunities Available at
THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2018
D.J Wonnum sets aim on strong junior season Shelby Beckler @sbeckler13
“D.J. is really challenging to improve his strength,” Muschamp said. “When you get separation, some of the 300 plus pound guys that have Among a solid defensive side, more girth on them, to be able to South Carolina will look to junior hold the point of attack, continuing defensive lineman D.J. Wonnum’s to work on those things, work on strength to be a vital defensive space coverage with him — I think weapon in the 2018 season. one of our best personnel groupings Wonnum is returning as a captain will be regular with Bryson at Sam and one of the Gamecocks’ strongest and D.J. at the Buck position.” forces on defense. As a permanent captain for South Last season, he accounted for 6.0 Carolina, Wonnum hopes to increase sacks and 13.0 communication tackles in the and lead his 2017 season. Still, team to have Wo n n u m w i l l the same face a stacked end goal: SEC East. improving as a “The biggest unit. thing I’ve learned Wo n n u m is ... there’s going said he has to be somebody worked on bigger, faster and his physicality stronger than in the offyou each game,” season, which Wo n n u m s a i d . has ultimately “ Yo u r m e n t a l contributed to toughness is his growth as a what’s going to player. get you through “We all hold the game.” each other W o n n u m accountable SARA YANG // THE GAMECOCK just the same attributes his successes in the past two seasons to amount, especially vocally,” Wonnum his work ethic in weight room and said. “We are working on vocally but on the field. He said he’s set his eyes also work ethic wise. We are trying on nothing but keeping his team to get those guys better and it’s going motivated and focused. pretty good so far.” “I have that mindset every With opening day around the practice,” Wonnum said. “I gotta go corner, Wonnum believes he is against this dude. I gotta think of beyond ready to show his improved what move I’m about to use.” technique and quickness on defense As an upperclassman, Wonnum f r o m t h e y e a r ’s f i r s t g a m e a t will look to cement hi power as a Williams-Brice Stadium. defensive player. Head coach Will Muschamp said he has no doubt that this 6-foot-5-inch, 258-pound player can shine in the SEC.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2018
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 23
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FROM OFFENSE PAGE 16
rushing attack seems to be a daunting task, the Gamecocks have the players in place to contain and prevent an excess of big plays from the position. Junior inside linebacker T.J. Brunson will be an X-factor in the matchup. Brunson’s knack for tracking down ball carriers and making the tackle in open space will be vital to South Carolina’s chance at keeping the Georgia rushing attack in check. Coming into his third year, Brunson is the voice of Gamecocks’ defense and will be the catalyst of whether the group is on it’s A-game. “T.J. is the leader of our defense, I want to make sure I let that be known,” said Bryson Allen-Williams, a fifth-year senior linebacker. “T.J. has come so far just from seeing him come in as a freshman to him about to enter his junior year and seeing his development and understanding of the calls. He diagnoses and makes the checks, so it’s his defense.”
The secondary matches up well with the playmakers of the Georgia offense, and the physicality of the Gamecock defense with the likes of Steven Montac anchoring the group will give an edge to the home team in this matchup. The Gamecocks have an array of weapons that will be able to match up with any receiving threat thrown at them. Assets come in the form of big bodied defensive backs that make up a trio of freshmen all over six-feet. Israel Mukuamu, Jaycee Horn and Jaylin Dickerson are all expected to play with an in-your-face mentality. The Gamecocks can also rely on the skills of senior graduate transfer corner Nick Harvey and 2017 SEC All-Freshman selection Jamyest Williams. When it comes down to it, defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson will have ample bodies capable of matching up against whoever Kirby Smart decides to throw on the field come Sept. 8.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2018
STAFF SEASON PREDICTIONS Five staffers break down who they believe will take home some of the most sought after titles this season.
SARA YANG
Photo Editor SEC Champion: Alabama SEC Championship: Alabama vs. Georgia Playoff Teams: Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Oklahoma National Championship: Alabama Heisman Trophy Winner: Trace McSorley, Penn State SEC Offensive Player of the Year: Deebo Samuel, South Carolina SEC Defensive Player of the Year: Raekwon Davis, Jr., Alabama SOUTH CAROLINA RECORD: 9-3
NICK PAPADIMAS
Assistant Sports Editor SEC Champion: Alabama SEC Championship: Alabama vs. Georgia Playoff Teams: Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State National Championship: Alabama Heisman Trophy Winner: Jake Fromm, Georgia SEC Offensive Player of the Year: Deebo Samuel, South Carolina SEC Defensive Player of the Year: De’Jon Harris, Arkansas SOUTH CAROLINA RECORD: 9-3
SHELBY BECKLER Sports Editor
SEC Champion: Alabama SEC Championship: Alabama vs. Georgia Playoff Teams: Alabama, Clemson, Washington, Wisonsin National Championship: Alabama Heisman Trophy Winner: Bryce Love, Stanford SEC Offensive Player of the Year: Deebo Samuel, South Carolina SEC Defensive Player of the Year: Raekwon Davis, Alabama SOUTH CAROLINA RECORD: 10-2
JOSH GERMAN
Assistant Sports Editor
MARY RAMSEY Editor-in-chief
SEC Champion: Alabama SEC Championship: Alabama vs. Georgia Playoff Teams: Alabama, Michigan, Washington, Clemson National Championship: Alabama Heisman Trophy Winner: Trace McSorely, Penn State SEC Offensive Player of the Year: D’Andre Swift, Georgia SEC Defensive Player of the Year: Devin White, LSU
SEC Champion: Alabama SEC Championship: Alabama vs. Georgia Playoff Teams: Alabama, Georgia, Penn State, Clemson National Championship: Alabama Heisman Trophy Winner: Bryce Love, Stanford SEC Offensive Player of the Year: Deebo Samuel, South Carolina SEC Defensive Player of the Year: Devin White, LSU
SOUTH CAROLINA RECORD: 10-2
SOUTH CAROLINA RECORD: 9-3
SHREYAS SABOO // THE GAMECOCK
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2018
Nixon looks to fill gaps with strong senior season Harrison Belk @HarrisonBelk
Keisean Nixon, a former Arizona Western junior college transfer, could be a game-changer for South Carolina this season. Returning for his senior season with the Gamecocks, Nixon looks to fill the holes left by recent departures on the defensive line and expand his playing versatility. Originally from Compton, California, Nixon played for rapper Snoop Dogg in the Snoop Youth Football League, a Pop Warner-age conference. The SYFL gave Nixon the opportunity to compete against some gifted young players who are at the
rts Intramural Spo
SARA YANG // THE GAMECOCK
collegiate and professional levels today. “I played for the Compton Vikings and then [Snoop’s] all star team,” Nixon said. “Just being around him, a bunch of guys on our team played like in the league or in college, like JuJu Smith ... we all played on the same team.” Nixon praised the opportunities and life skills that he learned from Snoop in his Pop Warner days. When asked about who was the worst coach to work under, between Snoop or head football coach Muschamp, there was little hesitation for Nixon. “Muschamp!” It is clear that Muschamp strives to get the absolute best out of his players on the field. However, when Nixon was asked
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Nixon played throughout the 2017 season, including against Florida late in the season.
about how his coach is off the field, he had nothing but praise. “They probably see he’s just a mean coach, football wise, but he’s a great guy off the field ... asks about my family a lot,” Nixon said. “Especially with me being from California, I’m far away.” As a new comer to South Carolina, Nixon spent last year making some big adjustments to his playing style to account for weather
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and other variables. Now going into his second season, he feels more prepared. “I had to get adjusted to the weather, plays and stuff like that ... Now, I had my first time ever going through workouts, period,” he said. “So I’m in shape, comfortable.” SEE NIXON PAGE 27
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FOOTBALL PREVIEW 27
THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2018 FROM NIXON PAGE 26
Nixon played in 12 games for the Gamecocks last season, which led to eight tackles and three turnovers. He saw much of his early time on the field on special teams, and shared the Jim Carlen Special Teams Player of the Spring honors with Steven Montac. Nixon didn’t make his first start at cornerback until the Outback Bowl win over Michigan. It was that game where Nixon made his season-best four tackles. The Gamecocks will look to Nixon for that skill-level even more this season as the team lost three starting players in the secondary from last season including Chris Lammons, Jamarcus King and D.J. Smith. In the absence of these players, Nixon will likely see an increased role and possibly playing time at nickelback. “Everybody learning positions, there’s going to be a lot of moving around,” Nixon said. If Nixon does see time at nickelback, it would be a change of skillset coming from the cornerback position. Nickelbacks combine skills from the cornerback and
safety positions forming a tough hybrid of the two. Nixon knows he would have to play a different game if put in that position and create more physicality. Another area where Nixon could make a huge difference is on special teams. Muschamp highlighted the battle for the punt returner position at SEC Media Day this year. “Deebo will be our kickoff returner,” Muschamp said. “We don’t plan on fair catching any, and we’ll have competition, as far as the punt returner is concerned, in camp.” Nixon sees this competition as an opportunity to challenge himself and possibly change the tide of close games. “You gotta be a different type of person to do it,” Nixon said. “It changed the game. There’s three phases in a football offense, defense and special teams. So, you can flip the whole momentum of a game with a punt return.” South Carolina fans can expect to see a huge impact on the field this season from Nixon as the senior back steps into his new role on defense.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2018 FROM DEFENSE PAGE 17
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guard. Cox may not have the level of impact this season that Roquan Smith had for the Bulldogs, but he will still be a force to be reckoned with in combination with the other 10 players to suit up alongside him for the Dawgs on Saturdays. How the Gamecocks match up: The Gamecocks offense and Bulldogs defense will be in two opposite situations when they take field. Where the Bulldogs defense could show inexperience due to the loss of multiple players, the Gamecocks’ veteran offense should show cohesion and understanding. The Gamecocks will have the advantage here as the the majority of their impact offensive players on the field have already been in SEC play before. The Gamecocks’ offense will look mostly the same as the one that took the field in Athens a
season ago in a 24 -10 victory for the Dawgs. Jake Bentley will be the X-factor in this game. Exploiting the inexperience of Georgia’s secondary and getting the ball into the hands of the many playmakers available in garnet and black will be vital to outmatching the offense of the Bulldogs. As important as Deebo Samuel is to the Gamecock’s plans on offense, using him as a decoy to draw attention from players like Bryan Edwards, Shi Smith, and Ortre Smith will be of greater benefit in order to exploit the matchups further down the depth chart. Conversely, Shi Smith can be used to take the top off of the defense to find ways to put Samuel into open space where he is the most electric. Prediction: SEE DEFENSE PAGE 30
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 29
THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2018
and black last season, he caught 250 yards and scored three touchdowns, two of which were kickoff returns both for 97 yards against N.C. State and Missouri. “Deebo for 11 quarters last year was probably the most explosive player in college football,” said Muschamp. “We’re looking forward to getting him the ball a bunch and having him have a healthy senior season.” Bentley, who has developed a friendship with Samuel on and off the field, is excited to have Samuel and his electric playmaking abilities back.
“You got a guy like that who you know can make a game change with one play,” said Bentley. “You can see the guys’ confidence in him and what he’s able to do. And not only is he a great player, but a great teammate as well.” While the excitement for this offense and this season are at an alltime high, fans will still have to wait a little longer to see this new look in action. The team reports for fall practice on Aug. 3, and will kick off the season Sept. 1 at Williams-Brice Stadium at noon against Coastal Carolina.
ZACH MCKINLEY // THE GAMECOCK
GAMECOCKS ANTICIPATE A NEW LOOK FOR OFFENSE Joe McLean @joemclean97 A new football season at South Carolina could mean a brand new offense for the Gamecocks this fall. In what has been a major talking point since the Garnet and Black spring game, the Gamecocks look to have a new, up-tempo style of play on the offensive side of the ball this season. The hype for this new offense continued on Thursday at SEC Media Day in Atlanta, which is considered to be the unofficial start to the college football season. There are many reasons behind this belief, including having coach Bryan McClendon promoted to offensive coordinator, as well as the return of senior wide receiver Deebo Samuel. “ [ M c C l e n d o n ’s ] j u s t v e r y aggressive ... a very aggressive
mindset, which I love,” said quarterback Jake Bentley. “He wants to score as many points as he can every single game ... any play can be a touchdown.” McClendon, who was promoted to offensive coordinator after a 26-19 Outback Bowl victory last season, received high praise from Muschamp for his adjustments during the game. “I watched the guy take over a very difficult situation in a bowl game with an intern tag,” said head coach Will Muschamp. “And [he] did a great job game planning, but more than anything, did a fantastic job adjusting at halftime, had command of the staff, command of the team.” Additionally, Samuel will be back on the field this fall after breaking his leg during a loss to Kentucky last season. He is expected to be one of the most electric players on the field. During his two games in garnet
@thegamecock
30 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2018 FROM DEFENSE PAGE 28
8/30/18
1 2 3 4
Solutions to today’s puzzle
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Expect a high scoring game between these two SEC East rivals. Both of these teams know how big this game is in terms of SEC aspirations and will look to use it to spark big seasons in a competitive SEC race. A win for the Gamecocks will offer a huge boost in the outlook of the season with arguably its toughest match out of the way by the second week. The same can be said for the Bulldogs as they face higher expectations to run through the SEC East and into Atlanta for the SEC Championship for the second year in a row.
Home field advantage should play a part in this matchup as Gamecock fans know the magnitude of this game. It iss looking to be a perfect storm brewing in Columbia for the early season upset. That being said, Georgia will have all reason in the world to spoil the day for the Gamecocks for the fourth consecutive year. The Bulldogs will be fighting to keep the ship sailing for their shot at a national title redemption down the line. This should fall in line with previous games between the two SEC East rivals: a physical, ground-it-out game that should be fairly evenly matched if both teams play up to their capabilities.
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