GamecockArchives.com 2017 Preview – NC State Game the matchup Most of the lead in to this game as focused on whether or not Carolina can score against the Wolfpack defense and with good reason. The 2016 version of the Gamecock offense was inconsistent and sputtered through late season losses to Florida (20-7) and Clemson (56-7). Hopes in Columbia are high though based on flashes shown by underclassmen like Jake Bentley, Rico Dowdle, Bryan Edwards, Deebo Samuel and Hayden Hurst and newcomers like Ty'Son Williams and Shi Smith. The 39 points the Gamecocks put up in the season ending bowl loss to South Florida also raised expectations. N.C. State on the other hand returns an experienced and successful defense with the exception of a couple of key losses in the secondary. USC will certainly look to exploit those losses behind second-year QB Bentley. The sophomore son of USC running back coach Bobby Bentley completed 66% of his passes, averaging 7.5 yards per attempt and hitting nine touchdown passes across his seven starts. He threw for 390 yards in the loss to USF and if he can cut down on sacks allowed he could be in for a big year. The running back corps, which looked undermanned at the beginning of 2016, now looks stacked. Soph Rico Dowdle had three 100 yard rushing games in the last six of the year while redshirt soph A.J. Turner had a 113-yard game against Texas A&M and proved to be a solid receiver out of the backfield. They’re joined now by UNC transfer Ty’Son Williams, who could emerge as the best of the bunch. Depth is provided by Wisconsin transfer Caleb Kinlaw and soph Mon Denson. Carolina had to rely on young unproven receivers last year also, but now returns talented headliners Deebo Samuel (59 catches for 793 yards and six rushing touchdowns) and Bryan Edwards (44-590-4), supported by three promising true freshman – speedy Shi Smith, giant (6- 4, 219) Or’Tre Smith and Chad Terrell who at 6-2 is another big target. Returnees Terry Googer and Chavis Dawkins will be in the mix and if Randrecous Davis can get healthy USC will have one more speed burner. Tight end Hayden Hurst, a preseason first team All-SEC pick by the coaches, will be Bentley’s safety net and a real matchup challenge. USC has quality depth too there with KC Crosby, Jacob August, Kiel Pollard, Kyle Markway and Evan Hinson. The offensive line took the brunt of the blame for USC’s struggles, but has developed depth and maybe more importantly is at full health to open the season. Both of this year’s starting guards, LG Donnell Stanley and RG Cory Helms, were hampered by injuries. Stanley went down in the season opener and never returned, while Helms played the year with a fracture in his lower leg. Center Alan Knott looks ready for a better season as well and has publicly credited the strength and conditioning staff and new nutritional management team for having the line in better shape for the upcoming year. Tackle Zach Bailey, a third team preseason All-SEC pick, is the headliner of the unit and moves from left tackle last season to right tackle this year. At left tackle last year’s right tackle, Malik Young, is battling junior college transfer Dennis Daley. Senior D.J. Park, who started at right guard last year, provides depth at every position but center and redshirt freshman Sadarius Hutcherson offers promise in reserve. This group will be highly tested by the Pack as despite some talent at RB last year they put rushing averages like 1.1 (Mississippi State), 1.2 (Georgia), 1.4 (Florida) and 2.7 (South Florida). They also allowed a sack percentage in double digits in six games last year, though some of that also fell on the shoulders of two true freshmen quarterbacks. They will be tested early and often by a State line that is experienced and talented. Seven players who saw significant time last year are back, led by end Bradley Chubb, currently projected as a first round pick in next year’s NFL draft. Chubb racked up 22 tackles for loss last year and has impressive quickness for a 6-4, 275 pound end. The other end position features two players capable of wreaking havoc, senior Kentavius Street and junior Darian Roseboro. Street, the starter for his stout play against the run, had 9 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks, while Roseboro had 7 sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Nose tackle B.J. Hill, checking in a 6-4, 315, adds another force in the middle of the field. Backup Tyrone Riley is solid at end, Palmetto State native Eurndraus Bryant is an experienced 325 pound tackle and Shug Frazier gives the Pack an up and coming tackle. State’s linebackers are experienced if not quite the headliners that the DL are. Senior Jerod Fernandez enters his fourth season as a starter. The undersized Floridian (6-0, 227) had 88 tackles last year and has picked off five passes over the last three seasons. He’s joined in the lineup by the Pack’s most experienced player, Airius Moore. The senior has played in 39 games GamecockArchives.com 2017 Preview – NC State Game and started 30 and is solid if unspectacular. The top reserve, junior Riley Nicholson, looked like a future standout as a freshman but struggled last season. The fourth linebacker is junior Germaine Pratt, coming off a redshirt year (shoulder surgery) and converting from the safety position. In the secondary State will definitely miss Josh Jones and Jack Tocho, both on NFL rosters at the moment. Corner Mike Stevens (32 tackles, 4 PBU, 1 INT) is out with an injury, leaving safety Shawn Boone (67 tackles) as the primary returning player. There will be opportunities for Bentley & company to make some plays. The starting corners for this matchup will be Rock Hill native Nick McCloud and converted WR Johnathan Alston. McCloud saw a little action last year as a true freshman but is probably better suited to play safety while Alston redshirted in 2016 as he made the conversion to the secondary. Boone, who will line up at the nickel, will be joined by safeties Jairus Morehead and Dexter Wright. Both players played a good bit last year on special teams and as backups and bring significant size – Morehead at 6-1, 217 and Wright at 6-2, 232 – to the back line. State put up some big defensive numbers last year, though those were significantly padded by a game against Notre Dame in a torrential rain storm where moving the ball was impossible and a bowl game against an extremely mediocre Vanderbilt offense. Against Wake, Clemson and Louisville they forced only one three and out all day and didn’t have any against Boston College. USC needs to follow the success Florida State (State had only a 35% success rate against the Seminoles’ passing plays), Miami (44%) and Louisville (43%) had in 2016 and throw the ball often but get the ball out quick and challenge the Pack secondary where speed and quickness is a little questionable. The Gamecocks’ offensive line was very shaky last year and while there is some optimism that there will be improvement, it may not be obvious in this game versus a big, talented Wolfpack front. Offensively Boise State transfer Ryan Finley took over last year as the Pack’s signal caller and while he’s not a prolific passer he is cool under pressure, rarely sacked and knows how to find his safety valve receiver. State struggled to pass in several key conference games last year – Clemson (32%), Louisville (24%), Boston College (37%) and Miami (38%) but feels like they are in a better position at receiver this year. Brae’lon Cherry has graduated, but Stephen Louis is a solid receiver, Kelvin Harmon is coming off a good freshman year and Ju’Michael Ramos returns after a year out due to injury. That doesn’t include H-back Jaylen Samuels, who will line up everywhere from the backfield to the slot, and is Finley’s favorite bail out target. The running game will lose Matt Dayes, who shouldered a heavy load last year. The Wolfpack wasn’t overly successful on the ground and will be counting on a running back by committee mix that will include juniors Nyheim Hines and Reggie Gallaspy and graduate student Dakwa Nichols. Hines played mostly wide receiver last year while Gallaspy struggled with injuries and Nichols saw scant playing time. The best case scenario for Coach Dave Doeren is that Gallaspy is healthy and successful as the every down back with Hines in the back as the third down and elusive change of pace back. State’s offensive line returns 89 career starts, so it will be an experienced bunch that lines up in Charlotte. Right guard Tony Adams (35 starts) is the leader. Garrett Bradbury slides over from left guard to center to fill the only vacant spot on the line, with junior Terrone Prescod moving into Bradbury’s left guard spot. The staff believes Prescod is one of their most improved linemen. Between Finley’s ability to get the ball out and avoid sacks and the experienced line a lot of pressure will be placed on the Gamecocks’ secondary to cover for extended periods of time. The Achilles’ heel of the Carolina defense still appears to be the defensive line.