For all of those folks who have been saying that this will be South Carolina's year, I am unfortunately going to have to disagree. I see too many question marks, especially on the offense for them to make a run for the one of the top spots in the nation.
JR QB Connor Shaw comes back as the unquestioned leader, and this alone should help him improve. Unfortunately, there is still a significant gap between Shaw and the top QBs in the conference, and I have concerns about him playing at a high level all year long. I am also underwhelmed by the receivers on this team, and except for SR C TJ Johnson, this is a very inexperienced o-line out front. The lone bright spot on this offense is all-world RB, JR Marcus Lattimore. Lattimore is a do-it-all kind of back and if he stays healthy, he should be in the Heisman discussion all season long.
The defense is another story entirely. Despite losing two studs up front (Melvin Ingram and Travian Robertson), this defensive line should be amongst the best in the country. SR DE Devin Taylor will be excellent off one edge and the prodigy SO Jadeveon Clowney coming of the other will be flat out scary. I expect this to be the year that Clowney emerges as one of the very best pass rushing threats in the whole land. The linebackers will be good, but I am not expecting a huge improvement over last year. The secondary however, will likely take a step back from the unit last year. Although 2 starters return, the loss of CB Stephon Gilmore will be very difficult to replace. The outstanding pressure that the front should bring though may help the secondary find their way in 2013.
South Carolina has a difficult schedule to contend with, especially playing Georgia, LSU, and Florida in back-to-back-to-back weeks in October. For South Carolina to be a factor, they are going to have to dig deep and pull out at least one win in that gauntlet.
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