2. Don’t forget about these Gamecocks

South Carolina returns some known commodities and impact players for the 2019 season, but also has some key holes to fill in all facets of the game. Those roles will be filled by a combination of newcomers and returning players looking to take the next step in their development. Many of those have grabbed headlines and been the subject of analysis this offseason, but there is a group perhaps flying under the radar in terms of potential impact. Here, we take a look at five.



WR Josh Vann



Don’t let a poor performance in the Belk Bowl last season diminish the fact that Vann is a young player with talent. A former four-star prospect who was coveted by UGA and other major programs, Vann still saw time as a true freshman despite enrolling in the summer and missing practice time recovering from shoulder surgery. There’s a big void in the playmaking corps with Deebo Samuel no longer around. Folks are still mentioning Vann in terms of his potential to step up at receiver and on special teams, but perhaps not enough.



BUCK Brad Johnson



He played over 90 snaps, plus special teams, against Clemson despite battling illness all week leading up to the game. That was due to USC’s injury situation at the time, but it illustrates Johnson’s competitive nature. The Pendleton native is a young true junior; he will not turn 19 until August. He’ll play behind D.J. Wonnum at BUCK, but should still pull down plenty of snaps and be a key special teams player. This could be a year he takes another step.



LB Ernest Jones



With T.J. Brunson sidelined this spring, Jones has received a bunch of repetitions at the MIKE linebacker spot. He played in a handful of games last season as a true freshman and is someone the coaching staff has always liked for his physical nature and intelligence. USC’s play on defense needs to be better across the board, and this is a position that some have pointed to as one that must improve in 2019. Having a healthier and more productive defensive line in front of them will help, but another year in the system for someone like Jones should not be discounted.



S J.T. Ibe



USC has some players in the secondary who are name recognizable by this point, but Ibe is someone likely deserving of more attention. He was a starter to open last season after rapidly ascending the depth chart, then went down to injury. Now in his sixth college season, there’s a good chance he’s a starter once again at one of the safety spots. USC’s healthier at the position now and the competition will continue, but Ibe’s been a productive player when given the chance.



TE Kyle Markway



It’s easy to see what Kiel Pollard can do in the passing game or to be captivated by Evan Hinson’s potential as a downfield threat. Markway is also a reliable pass-catcher, can make teams pay if he’s left open, and will stick his face in the fan and block. He’s a key contributor on special teams as well.



– Chris Clark