Gamecocks OC Marcus Satterfield ignores skeptics. Can he prove doubters wrong Week 1?

South Carolina offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield has taken enough heat to melt titanium in his first year-plus in Columbia.

Some of that is deserved. Some isn’t.

Satterfield is an über football guy to his core. He tunes out most of the chatter. He doesn’t even really enjoy social media (he’s tweeted all of nine times since Jan 1).

Whether Satterfield heard his detractors or not, coach Shane Beamer still had to field questions about Satterfield’s job security after Clemson’s 30-0 regular season thumping of the Gamecocks. It certainly didn’t slow the thought South Carolina might make a switch after the Duke’s Mayo Bowl win over North Carolina.

But with a revamped offense courtesy of a slew of transfers and productive returners, the Gamecocks’ embattled offensive coordinator has a chance to rewrite the perception of him around Columbia — even if he insists he doesn’t care what it might be.

“I’m proud of what I am as an offensive coordinator,” Satterfield said on Wednesday. “I’d love to have seen a lot of coordinators out there to considered gurus come and do what we did last year with four different quarterbacks in Year 1. I am very confident in what we’re able to do.“

That Satterfield came under fire last year wasn’t completely without merit.

The Gamecocks concluded the year ranked in the bottom-third of the Southeastern Conference in most every major offensive category. They finished ahead of only Vanderbilt — which finished the 2021 season 2-10 — in scoring offense and passing offense.

The revolving door at quarterback produced four passers that combined for 2,546 yards and 21 touchdowns to 11 interceptions over 13 games. The 195.8 average passing yards per contest would’ve ranked 75th among individual quarterbacks, between Tulane’s Michael Pratt and Ball State’s Drew Plitt.

That’s not to mention a handful of questionable play-calls — the Jordan Burch trick play interception at Tennessee comes to mind.

But give Satterfield credit. After a season in which fans consistently called for his head at times, he has owned the offensive struggles of the Gamecocks.

Beamer, too, has ridden at his offensive coordinator’s side through it it all.

“All I’ve heard for a month is how awful (the offensive staff) are, and what am I doing not firing people and things like that,” Beamer said following a season-high 543-yard output in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl win over North Carolina . “Well, I hope that’s a great answer for you right there. That’s why.”

The offseason has been about as positive as can be around Columbia. Shane Beamer evolved into a media darling in and around college football, while the Gamecocks are a trendy dark-horse pick in a wide-open SEC East behind defending national champion Georgia.

Satterfield has preached throughout fall camp he feels the offense is in a better place than it was a year ago. Staff and scheme continuity helps. So does adding a quarterback like former Oklahoma signal-caller Spencer Rattler after an absolute mess of a situation under center a season ago, which, in fairness, contributed to a chunk of countless offensive issues.

On paper, the Gamecocks should be loaded around Rattler, too. Last year’s leading receiver Josh Vann is back. As is do-it-all tight end Jaheim Bell. Throw in a quartet of skill position adds in running back Christian Beal-Smith (Wake Forest), Austin Stogner (Oklahoma) and receivers Antwane Wells Jr. (James Madison) and Corey Rucker (Arkansas State) — though Beal-Smith and Rucker are currently dealing with injury — and there’s reason to think a step forward is coming.

Any real indication of that possible breakout, though, starts Saturday against a Georgia State team that returns seven starters from a defense that allowed almost 450 yards per game in Sun Belt play last year.

“I know it’s there, but I have no clue, zero clue what you say, what anybody says. I don’t care. That’s part of it,” Satterfield told The State recently. “I got frustrated, but are people that naive? Do they think everybody just shows up and you play (four) different quarterbacks and you haven’t really been an elite offense in a long time that, because you want it, you’re going to be 500 yards game, 45 points a game, no turnovers, no mess ups, no (missed assignments)? It’s not realistic. You have to go through this stuff.”

Satterfield assures he’s learned from last season. He’s publicly worn the struggles of 2021 with grace and humility.

The second-year offensive coordinator may not give a hoot what his perception is around town, but a standout showing against a tricky Georgia State squad is one way to rewrite those narratives in a hurry, whether Satterfield cares or not.