The 2018 South Carolina Gamecocks football team (variously USC, SC, South Carolina, or The Gamecocks) represented the University of South Carolina in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. This season marked the Gamecocks 125th overall season, 27th as a member of the SEC, and 3rd under head coach Will Muschamp. The Gamecocks played their home games at Williams–Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina and compiled an overall record of 7–6, and 4–4 in SEC play.
South Carolina entered the season with high expectations after overachieving the previous year. The Gamecocks won their season-opener, and entered the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2014. Through the regular season, they defeated every unranked opponent and lost to every ranked opponent. By the end of the regular season, Muschamp had become the first coach in school history to win 22 games and reach three bowl games in his first three seasons. However, the season ended with a "disaster" in the Belk Bowl, and this would be Muschamp's final winning season; it would also be South Carolina's final winning season until 2021.
Gamecock fan Marcus Washington's trap remix of "Sandstorm" also made its debut at Williams–Brice Stadium, and has since become a "staple" at home football games.
Background
Offseason departures Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Note Hayden Hurst #81 TE 6'5 253 Junior Jacksonville, FL Declared for NFL Draft Skai Moore #10 LB 6'2 221 RS Senior Cooper City, FL Graduated Jamarcus King #7 CB 6'1 186 Senior Eight Mile, AL Graduated Dante Sawyer #95 DE 6'3 265 Senior Suwanee, GA Graduated Chris Lammons #3 S 5'9 188 Senior Sunrise, FL Graduated Alan Knott #70 C 6'4 274 RS Senior Tyrone, GA Graduated Taylor Stallworth #90 DT 6'3 308 Senior Mobile, AL Graduated Ulric Jones #93 DT 6'6 309 RS Senior Oxford, AL Graduated D.J. Smith #24 S 5'9 188 Senior Marietta, GA Graduated Corey Helms #51 OG 6'5 308 RS Senior Alpharetta, GA Graduated D.J. Park #69 RT 6'5 332 RS Senior Dillon, SC Graduated Kaleb Chalmers #12 CB 5'10 181 RS Sophomore Greenwood, SC Transferred C.J. Freeman #36 RB 5'11 204 RS Sophomore Greensboro, NC Transferred Jerad Washington #9 WR 5'8 171 RS Sophomore Jacksonville, FL Transferred Antoine Wilder #29 LB 5'10 198 RS Junior Riverdale, GA Transferred Aaron Thompson #96 DT 6'3 300 RS Sophomore Fort Lauderdale, FL Transferred Terry Googer #6 WR 6'4 217 RS Junior Atlanta, GA Retired Davonne Bowen #54 LB 6'1 218 RS Freshman Simpsonville, SC Retired
Preseason
Returning starters South Carolina will have sixteen returning players on offense, nine on defense and two on special teams that started games in 2017.
Offense
PlayerClassPosition Jake Bentley Junior Quarterback Deebo Samuel RS Senior Wide receiver Bryan Edwards Junior Wide receiver Zack Bailey Senior Offensive tackle Rico Dowdle Junior Running back Shi Smith Sophomore Wide receiver OrTre Smith Sophomore Wide receiver A.J. Turner RS Junior Running back Ty'Son Williams RS Junior Running back Jacob August RS Senior Tight end Kevin Crosby RS Senior Tight end Malik Young RS Senior Offensive tackle Donell Stanley RS Senior Center Blake Camper Senior Offensive tackle Sadarius Hutcherson Sophomore Offensive guard Randrecous Davis Sophomore Wide receiverReference:
Defense PlayerClassPosition Bryson Allen-Williams RS Senior Linebacker D. J. Wonnum Junior Defensive end T. J. Brunson Junior Linebacker Rashad Fenton Senior Cornerback Javon Kinlaw Junior Defensive tackle Jamyest Williams Sophomore Safety Sherrod Greene Junior Linebacker Keir Thomas Junior Defensive end Steven Montac Senior Defensive backReference:
Special teams PlayerClassPosition Parker White RS Sophomore Kicker Joseph Charlton RS Junior PunterReference:
Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released Rimington TrophyDonell StanleyCJRChuck Bednarik AwardD. J. WonnumDEJRMaxwell AwardJake BentleyQBJRDeebo SamuelWRSRDavey O'Brien AwardJake BentleyQBJRDoak Walker AwardRico DowdleRBJRFred Biletnikoff AwardDeebo SamuelWRSRJohn Mackey AwardK.C. CrosbyTESRPaul Hornung AwardDeebo SamuelWRSRWuerffel TrophyT. J. BrunsonLBJRWalter Camp AwardJake BentleyQBJRTed Hendricks AwardD. J. WonnumDEJRJohnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardJake BentleyQBJRManning AwardJake BentleyQBJR
SEC media poll The SEC media poll was released on July 20, 2018, with the Gamecocks predicted to finish in second place in the East Division.Media predicts Alabama to win 2018 SEC Championship
Preseason All-SEC teams The Gamecocks had three players at five positions selected to the preseason all-SEC teams.
Offense
1st team
Deebo Samuel – WR
3rd team
Zack Bailey – OL
Specialists
1st team
Deebo Samuel – RET
Deebo Samuel – all purpose player
2nd team
Joseph Charlton – P
Recruiting
2018 recruiting class
Incoming transfers South Carolina added two grad transfers, and two regular transfers to the 2018 roster. Name Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Prev. School Nick Harvey CB 5'10" 185 Senior (Grad Transfer) Richmond, TX Texas A&M J.T. Ibe S 6'0" 190 Senior (Grad Transfer) Mansfield, TX Rice Jamel Cook S 6'4" 186 RS Sophomore Miami, FL Southern Cal Josh Belk DT 6'3" 359 Freshman Richburg, SC Clemson
Schedule
Spring game
The 2018 South Carolina Gamecocks Garnet and Black spring game took place in Columbia, South Carolina on March 31, at 12:00 p.m. EST. The game was broadcast live on the SEC Network. The Black team defeated the Garnet team by a score of 34–20, QB Jake Bentley completed 15 of 25 passes for 174 yards and 2 TD's.
Regular season South Carolina announced its 2018 football schedule on September 19, 2017. The schedule consists of 7 home games and 5 away games for the regular season. The Gamecocks hosted SEC opponents Georgia (rivalry) on September 8, Missouri on October 6, Texas A&M on October 13, and Tennessee, on October 27. South Carolina traveled to four SEC opponents: Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Ole Miss and Florida.
South Carolina's out of conference opponents represent the ACC, MAC, SoCon and Sun Belt conferences. The Gamecocks hosted three non–conference games which are against Coastal Carolina of the Sun Belt, Akron of the MAC and Chattanooga of the SoCon. South Carolina traveled to archrival Clemson of the ACC for 116th annual Palmetto Bowl to finish the regular season. The Gamecocks were originally scheduled to face Conference USA opponent Marshall on September 15, but this game was cancelled due to Hurricane Florence. Akron was then scheduled as a replacement.
Personnel
Coaching staff South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp entered his third-year in 2018. Muschamp led the Gamecocks to 15 wins and 11 losses over his first two years, tying Steve Spurrier, and Joe Morrison for most wins in the first two seasons as a Gamecock head coach. On December 6, Offensive Coordinator Kurt Roper was terminated after offensive struggles. Co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon served as the offensive coordinator for the Outback Bowl win against Michigan, and was promoted to permanent offensive coordinator to replace Roper. On January 5, Dan Werner accepted the role of quarterbacks coach. Werner has previously been on Ole Miss, Miami, and Alabama's coaching staff.
On January 11, it was announced that former South Carolina star running back Marcus Lattimore would be joining the staff as the director of player development.
NamePositionConsecutive season Will Muschamp Head coach 3rd Lance Thompson Assistant head coach and defensive line coach 3rd Travaris Robinson Defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach 3rd Bryan McClendon Offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach 3rd (1st as OC) Bobby Bentley Running backs coach 3rd Eric Wolford Offensive line coach 2nd Coleman Hutzler Linebackers coach and special teams coordinator 3rd Mike Peterson Outside linebackers coach 3rd Pat Washington Tight ends coach 3rd Dan Werner Quarterbacks coach 1st Kyle Krantz Nickelbacks and strong side linebackers coach, assistant special teams coach 1st Jeff Dillman Director of Player Strength and Conditioning 3rd Matthew Lindsey Director of Player Personnel 2nd Marcus Lattimore Director of Player Development 1st
Roster 2018 South Carolina Gamecocks Football RosterQuarterback 4 Darius Douglas – freshman (6'0, 199) 7 Dakereon Joyner – freshman (6'1, 208) 10 Jay Urich – freshman (6'5, 210) 11 Corbett Glick – freshman (6'1, 203) 12 Michael Scarnecchia – senior(6'3, 216) 16 Bailey Hart – sophomore (6'3, 178) 17 Danny Gordon – senior (6'0, 211) 19 Jake Bentley – junior (6'4, 224)
Running back 5 Rico Dowdle – junior (6'0, 215) 14 Deshaun Fenwick – freshman (6'1, 220) 25 A.J. Turner – junior (5'10, 195) 27 Ty'Son Williams – junior (6'0, 219) 31 Lavonte Valentine – freshman (6'0, 190) 32 Caleb Kinlaw – senior (5'10, 198) 33 Slade Carroll – freshman (5'9, 210) 34 Mon Denson – junior (5'10, 212)
Wide receiver 1 Deebo Samuel – senior (6'0, 210) 6 Josh Vann – freshman (5'10, 185) 8 Randrecous Davis – sophomore (5'10, 189) 13 Shi Smith – sophomore (5'10, 187) 18 OrTre Smith – sophomore (6'4, 222) 28 Joe Thomas – freshman (5'9, 183) 80 Shemar Glenn – junior (6'0, 165) 81 Darius Rush – freshman (6'2, 184) 82 Bailey Rogers – junior (5'9, 167) 83 Chavis Dawkins – junior (6'2, 220) 86 Chad Terrell – sophomore (6'3, 219) 89 Bryan Edwards – junior (6'3, 220) Placekicker 12 Shane Hynes – senior (5'9, 178) 42 Alexander Woznick – sophomore (5'11, 166) 43 Parker White – sophomore (6'5, 200) Punter 20 Joseph Charlton – junior (6'5, 188) 85 Michael Almond – junior (6'3, 225) Tight end 3 K.C. Crosby – senior (6'1, 229) 15 Evan Hinson – junior (6'4, 230) 40 Jacob August – senior (6'6, 252) 41 Caleb Jenerette – freshman (6'2, 221) 46 Patrick Reedy – freshman (6'7, 240) 84 Kyle Markway – junior (6'4, 242) 87 Kiel Pollard – junior (6'1, 235) 88 Will Register – freshman (6'4, 251)
Offensive Lineman 50 Sadarius Hutcherson – sophomore (6'4, 310) 51 Maxwell Iyama – freshman (6'5, 310) 54 Jovaughn Gwyn – freshman (6'2, 296) 55 Christian Pellage – junior (6'7, 305) 60 Chandler Farrell – sophomore (6'3, 290) 61 Cameron Johnson – sophomore (6'6, 289) 63 Blake Camper – senior (6'8, 309) 66 Will Putnam – sophomore (6'5, 297) 68 Wyatt Campbell – freshman (6'6, 305) 70 Hank Manos – freshman (6'4, 289) 71 Eric Douglas – freshman (6'4, 298) 72 Donell Stanley – senior (6'3, 315) 73 Summie Carlay – freshman (6'5, 300) 74 Dennis Daley – senior (6'6, 324) 75 Jordon Carty – freshman (6'7, 315) 76 Jordan Rhodes – freshman (6'4, 325) 77 Malik Young – senior (6'3, 287) 78 Zack Bailey – senior (6'6, 314) 79 Dylan Wonnum – freshman (6'5, 310) Defensive Lineman 3 Javon Kinlaw – junior (6'6, 305) 5 Keir Thomas – junior (6'2, 276) 8 D. J. Wonnum – junior (6'5, 258) 15 Aaron Sterling – sophomore (6'1, 245) 19 Brad Johnson – sophomore (6'2, 250) 35 Daniel Fennell – junior (6'2, 246) 50 Griffin Gentry – sophomore (6'1, 270) 52 Kingsley Enagbare – freshman (6'4, 285) 57 Jazuun Outlaw – freshman (6'2, 238) 61 Javion Duncan – senior (5'11, 273) 90 Rick Sandidge – freshman (6'5, 285) 91 Shameik Blackshear – junior (6'5, 270) 92 Tyreek Johnson – freshman (6'3, 270) 93 Jesus Gibbs – freshman (6'3, 280) 94 M.J. Webb – freshman (6'3, 288) 95 Kobe Smith – junior (6'2, 295) 96 Josh Belk – freshman (6'3, 359) 99 Jabari Ellis – junior (6'3, 280) Linebacker 4 Bryson Allen-Williams – senior (6'1, 230) 6 T. J. Brunson – junior (6'1, 240) 11 Eldridge Thompson – senior (6'1, 229) 30 Damani Staley – sophomore (6'0, 225) 42 Rosendo Louis Jr. – freshman (6'2, 240) 44 Sherrod Greene – sophomore (6'1, 228) 45 Spencer Eason-Riddle – sophomore (6'0, 225) 46 Noah Vincent – freshman (6'0, 209) 48 Sean McGonigal – freshman (6'1, 221) 53 Ernest Jones – freshman (6'2, 235) 59 Alex DeLoach – freshman (6'3, 209)
Defensive back 1 Nick Harvey – senior (5'10, 195) 7 Jaycee Horn – freshman (6'1, 195) 9 Keisean Nixon – senior (5'10, 193) 10 R.J. Roderick – freshman (6'0, 207) 16 Rashad Fenton – senior (5'11, 188) 17 Javon Charleston – junior (6'1, 187)