There are few things in life that are guaranteed, but death, taxes, and overreactions during “talking season” leading up to kickoff are the ones that are. Every fanbase will inevitably either overhype or catastrophize certain players or aspects of their team during the seemingly endless offseason. For the Gamecocks, specifically, what are the offseason’s biggest overreactions on both offense and defense?

Offense

‍I think the answer is fairly obvious and will undoubtedly fire up the fans, but the sensationalism regarding LaNorris Sellers is remarkable.

Don’t get me wrong- I think he will have a special career for South Carolina, but the notion that he will single handedly revive the program to eight to nine plus wins as a redshirt freshman isn’t just a lofty goal, it is borderline insane.

Compare this year’s team to last year’s, and you’ll find that some of the same issues remain (ie: the offensive line) while new ones now exist (ie: wide receiver). If Rattler, as talented as he was, struggled at times last season due to some of these same concerns despite years of power five experience, the expectations for Sellers in year one as the starting QB need to be brought back down to earth.

He showed tremendous flashes a season ago, but the sample size was small and the competition was lacking. I think he will be solid next season, but he will definitely need help if the Gamecocks are going to go bowling.

‍Defense

‍Defensively, I think the overreaction doesn’t just surround one player but the defense as a whole.

Beamer and his staff unequivocally bolstered the entire defensive roster through the transfer portal as well as through high school recruiting. This fact is no truer than along the defensive line where the Gamecocks not only return the majority of their starters but add players like Dylan Stewart, Kyle Kennard, DeAndre Jules, and Monkell Goodwine. There’s no doubt that this is the deepest the defensive line has been under Beamer, and he didn’t stop there.

The Gamecocks brought in new faces to help their linebacker group as well as their secondary. On paper, the defense should be solid, but that is my point. We have nothing definitive to go on. Sure, returning veterans at all levels is, at first glance, a positive thing. Take one look at the defensive statistics over the last couple of seasons, though, and it’s easy to see why there should still be a healthy level of concern.

The hope is that the new additions will fill the holes and lift this side of the ball to levels it’s never been under Beamer and White. That said, Beamer’s remarks a couple of seasons ago declaring the defensive line as the strength of the defense despite underwhelming statistics echo louder now than at the time he made them. I believe this is the case because the d-line actually should be the strength of the defense, but this feels like a unit that we have been waiting on to turn the corner but just hasn’t.

I’m not saying this will be another disappointing defensive squad, but it will take a little bit of time for things to come together. Just how much can this defense improve? Only time will tell.