A look at South Carolina’s biggest roster holes for 2023

The end of the 2022 season is only five days past, but it’s never too early to start turning attention toward the 2023 iteration of Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks.

No. 19 South Carolina narrowly missed out on a ninth win in a riveting 45-38 Gator Bowl loss to No. 21 Notre Dame. But with a handful of draft decisions still to be made, there may well be a massive overhaul from this year’s squad to next.

Here’s a look at some of the most glaring holes on the USC roster heading out of 2022 campaign and toward spring ball:

Tight end/receiver

I’ll combine these two positions for simplicity sake — but it’s hard to overstate how much the Gamecocks could lose from 2022’s improved passing game.

South Carolina has already lost four of its top five pass-catchers from this fall — Jalen Brooks, Jaheim Bell, Austin Stogner and Nate Adkins — due to transfer or graduation. Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. may well also be on his way out if the Southeastern Conference’s second-leading receiver decides to turn pro.

Look even further down the depth chart and, if Wells does indeed leave, South Carolina would be out eight of the top 12 receivers from the 2022 season.

Beamer and his staff have done a nice job addressing a tight end room that was a skeleton crew most of bowl season, landing commitments from transfers Trey Knox (Arkansas), Joshua Simon (Western Kentucky) and Nick Elksnis (Florida).

Knox and Simon both have big-time pass-catching upside and have shown it at the college level. The former also started his time in Fayetteville as a receiver and could conceivably move there if need be.

Beyond the transfers, South Carolina’s most experienced options at receiver and tight end right now include Dakereon Joyner, Xavier Legette and Ahmarean Brown — a trio that, albeit dynamic on paper, combined for just 49 receptions for 475 yards receiving and four touchdowns in 2022.

Defensive end

Some of this has to do with projecting whether or not Jordan Burch comes back to Columbia.

Rumors have swirled that Burch might be considering entering the draft or transferring. Nothing concrete has been said by Burch’s camp, but it’s, at the very least, something to monitor in the coming weeks.

Assuming Burch does play one more season in Columbia, this group will still be thin entering the spring.

Jordan Strachan is reportedly seeking a seventh year of eligibility but is also coming off an ACL injury. Given the NCAA’s efficiency, or lack thereof, we’ll see when that gets resolved or if it comes to fruition.

South Carolina has also already lost Gilber Edmond — Strachan’s replacement after he went down injured in Week 2 — and reserve edge Hot Rod Fitten to the transfer portal.

Freshman Bryan Thomas Jr. showed flashes, though he could use a true year of seasoning, if possible. That leaves Terrell Dawkins, who missed most of the year with an injury, and Tyreek Johnson as depth pieces or potential starters depending on Strachan’s and Burch’s situations.

South Carolina has recruited well on the defensive line this cycle, landing signatures from four-star edge rushers Desmond Umeozulu and Monteque Rhames. However, like Thomas, it would behoove those guys to get a year to develop.

Running back

MarShawn Lloyd’s high-profile departure from Columbia seemingly came out of nowhere. Beamer basically said as much shortly after he left the program.

That said, with Lloyd in the transfer portal and unlikely to return — along with Bell, the team’s second-leading rusher in 2022, off to Florida State and Christian Beal-Smith’s graduation — the Gamecocks desperately need someone who can shoulder the load at running back.

Juju McDowell did a commendable job in the bowl game taking on RB1 duties. McDowell, given his smaller stature and ability on the edge, is still better suited as a change-of-pace, third-down-type tailback than a bell cow.

South Carolina did land an intriguing transfer piece in Newberry All-American rusher Mario Anderson, who was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy (Division II Heisman) this past fall. Anderson has similar size to Lloyd at 5-foot-9, 210 pounds and could conceivably split time with McDowell.

The Gamecocks also signed four-star tailback Dontavious Braswell this cycle and should return one-time Georgia transfer Lovasea Carroll from this year’s team.

South Carolina should have a few options, but this is a hole given there’s no real obvious answer as to who will take on the lead-back role Lloyd occupied so productively this past season.