South Carolina Spring: Finding consistency, playmakers for struggling offense

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina's best offensive playmakers are gone, not a promising prospect for an offense that had its share of problems last season.

The Gamecocks were 5-7 and missed the postseason for the first time in coach Shane Beamer's three seasons. The offense ranked 12th in Southeastern Conference scoring and, while quarterback Spencer Rattle r and receiver Xavier Legette fueled the league's fourth-best passing attack, it was dead last in rushing.

The focus this spring? Finding consistency on offense among the inexperienced backups and incoming transfers.

South Carolina offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains told his offense the first day of spring practice earlier this month is the world judges them on three things: "You've got to know what to do, you've got to know how to do it and you've got to go do it under pressure.

“We're still in the phase of learning what to do,” he said.

Rattler threw for 6,212 yards with 37 touchdowns and 20 interceptions in his two years since transferring from Oklahoma. Legette caught 71 passes for a school record 1,255 yards last season. Also gone is Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr., who was the team's leading pass catcher in 2022 with 68 receptions for 928 yards. He transferred to Mississippi this offseason.

Leading rusher Mario Anderson left to join Memphis, the second straight season the Gamecocks lost their top runner to the portal after MarShawn Lloyd, who ran for 573 yards in 2022, moved on to Southern Cal.

South Carolina even struggled holding onto new offensive assistants. Beamer brought in James Coley, the ex-Texas A&M staffer, as receivers coach in January, who then turned around a few weeks later for Georgia when an opportunity arose there.

Beamer replaced him with ex-NFL receiver and Division II Limestone head coach Mike Furrey at the end of February, only a couple of weeks before spring practice started.

“It allowed us to go out and hire an even better wide receivers coach in my mind," Beamer said.

Practices have concentrated on those on the field, Beamer said, not those who left.

Newcomers include former Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford, who started 10 games in two years with the Tigers, to go along with highly regarded sophomore LaNorris Sellers, a five-star prospect who learned behind Rattler a season ago.

Sellers, at 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, made three appearances last season. Ashford received no promises about playing time from Beamer, he said, only the chance to compete — just the way he wanted.

Competition “only makes me better, and this (quarterback) room better,” he said. “At the end of the day, we always want to get better.”

At running back, South Carolina brought in Arkansas' Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, who was an all-SEC runner with 1,443 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022. Sanders ran for 209 yards in six games a year ago with a lingering knee injury that has kept him out of spring workouts.

Receiving hopes are pinned on Nyck Harbor, a sophomore two-sport athlete now competing with the track team. He was named the SEC freshman of the week in track for winning the 100 meters and anchoring the 400 meter relay team to victory. Harbor's 6-foot-5 frame along with his speed make him a strong favorite as top target for next season.

South Carolina fortified its receiving spot with incoming transfers in Ahmari Huggins-Bruce of Louisville, Gage Larvadain of Miami of Ohio and Jared Brown of Coastal Carolina.

Brown caught 107 passes for 1,529 yards and 10 touchdowns the past two seasons with the Chanticleers.

Luke Doty, South Carolina's former quarterback now working at receiver, likes what he's seen from the newcomers so far.

“When we kick it off in August, it's going to be fun to watch,” said Doty, in his fourth season with the Gamecocks. “A lot of explosive plays, a lot of downhill runs, just plays being made everywhere by a lot of different guys.”

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FILE - Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. South Carolina coach Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks have spent spring ball concentrating on those on the field, not those who left. That includes former Auburn quarterback Ashford, who started 10 games in two years with the Tigers, to go along with highly regarded sophomore LaNorris Sellers, a five-star prospect who learned behind Rattler a season ago. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)

FILE - South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer is all smiles after taking a 13-0 lead during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Columbia, S.C. South Carolina's best playmakers on offense the past two years are all gone, meaning this spring is a search for consistency and production from an attack that had its struggles last season. The Gamecocks were 5-7 and missed the postseason for the first time in coach Beamer's three seasons. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr., File)

FILE - South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler (7) runs for a first down during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Columbia, S.C. South Carolina's best playmakers on offense the past two years are all gone, meaning this spring is a search for consistency and production from an attack that had its struggles last season. With Rattler and Xavier Legette awaiting NFL draft picks — Legette a likely first-rounder, Rattler a mid-round choice — it's up to inexperienced newcomers and transfers to push the Gamecocks forward. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr., File)

All four of the Southeastern Conference's top 10 teams in last season's final AP Top 25 return established starting quarterbacks.

Beyond that top group, there is plenty of competition and new starters, either via the transfer portal or with backups moving into the top job.

At least seven SEC teams figure to have new starting quarterbacks going into next season. It just so happens that none of them include the teams ranked between fourth and ninth to end last season: Georgia, Alabama, Missouri and Mississippi (those numbers don't count Oklahoma and Texas, who join the SEC on July 1).

The Crimson Tide no longer have Nick Saban prowling the sidelines, but they do have Jalen Milroe leading the offense. Milroe rebounded from a shaky early season to lead Alabama to the Southeastern Conference championship and into the College Football Playoff.

“I’m starving. There’s some things I can get better from last year, so each and every day I’m trying to be my best me, every single time I come into the facility,” said Milroe, who was sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting. "I’m challenged to do that each and every day with myself. I have goals I set for myself, short-term goals and long-term goals that I need to do to be the best quarterback in the country this season.”

Georgia has Carson Beck back at the reins for a team that fell short of getting a shot at a third straight national title last season.

Brady Cook is back at Missouri, which finished eighth for its highest final ranking in a decade, and Jaxson Dart returns to Ole Miss after leading the Rebels to their first 11-win season and a No. 9 final landing spot.

Florida got Graham Mertz back for a sixth college season. Conner Weigman returns at Texas A&M after playing in only four games because of injury. Payton Thorne is fighting to retain his starting job at Auburn.

Other teams playing catch-up have less experience at the position, at least with their current program.

Tennessee is elevating backup Nico Iamaleava, a former five-star recruit, to replace Joe Milton. He was solid in five outings, including one start as a freshman.

“Obviously, I think I have a little bit more of a grasp of the offense and what we’re trying to do," Iamaleava said.

LSU turns to Garrett Nussmeier after Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels headed to the NFL. Nussmeier has played in 18 games over the past two seasons and was impressive in his last start, winning MVP honors in a bowl win over Wisconsin after Daniels opted out.

That's the traditional route. Other SEC coaches dipped into the transfer portal for new quarterbacks.

Mississippi State has to replace the SEC's No. 2 all-time passer Will Rogers, who transferred to Washington. Newcomer Blake Shapen started 23 games at Baylor.

Arkansas brought in Taylen Green from Boise State, with three-year starter KJ Jefferson leaving for UCF.

South Carolina has Robby Ashford (Auburn) competing with LaNorris Sellers to replace Spencer Rattler.

Vanderbilt nabbed Utah's Nate Johnson and former New Mexico State starter Diego Pavia.

Beck's backup at Georgia, Brock Vandagriff, transferred to Kentucky.

Georgia must replace some of Beck's biggest playmakers, including their top two rushers and tight end Brock Bowers.

"Keeping him healthy and protected is important, but also surrounding him with playmakers that can capitalize on his strengths will make us a better offense,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said.

No first-year SEC coach in recent memory faces more scrutiny than Alabama's Kalen DeBoer, who led Washington to the national championship game last season. It would be the case with any coach who replaces Saban, who won six national championships in 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa.

Mike Elko takes over at Texas A&M after the Aggies fired Jimbo Fisher. Jeff Lebby, a former offensive coordinator at Oklahoma and Mississippi State rival Ole Miss, takes over the Bulldogs program.

The quarterbacks get much of the attention, but plenty of teams have added key players at other positions. Ole Miss and Texas A&M topped the 247Sports transfer rankings while Alabama was fourth.

Ole Miss got former Texas A&M defensive lineman Walter Nolen. Auburn recently landed former Penn State receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith.

Alabama reclaimed left tackle Kadyn Procter, who had left for Iowa after last season. Kentucky picked up ex-Georgia linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson. The Aggies got a top pass rusher in former Purdue standout Nic Scourton. Former Oklahoma offensive lineman Cayden Green headed back to his home state at Missouri.

Aug. 29: Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Arkansas; Murray State at Missouri. Aug. 30: Temple at Oklahoma. Aug. 31: Notre Dame at Texas A&M, Old Dominion at South Carolina; Clemson at Georgia; Furman at Ole Miss; Eastern Kentucky at Mississippi State; Southern Miss at Kentucky; Virginia Tech at Vanderbilt; Alabama A&M at Auburn; Colorado State at Texas; Tennessee-Chattanooga at Tennessee; Miami (Florida) at Florida; Western Kentucky at Alabama. Sept. 1: USC at LSU.

AP Sports Writers Teresa Walker and Charles Odum contributed to this report.

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) throws a pass during the first of an NCAA college spring football game Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)