If any SEC coach can speak to the downside of quarterback uncertainty, it’s South Carolina's Will Muschamp.

Inconsistent quarterback play proved to be Muschamp’s undoing at Florida -- and now he inherits a shaky situation at the position at South Carolina. Will Muschamp and offensive coordinator Kurt Roper go with an experienced veteran or a talented newcomer? We shall see.

2015 in review: Muschamp and Roper certainly hope there will be more stability at quarterback this season than there was last fall. The Gamecocks started the season with Connor Mitch before he got hurt, then shifted to former walk-on Perry Orth, then experimented with freshman Lorenzo Nunez before going back to Orth when Nunez injured his shoulder against Missouri. Orth (143-for-261 for 1,929 yards, 12 touchdowns, nine interceptions) was OK, but the Gamecocks would certainly love to see more consistency from the position in 2016.

Perry Orth's spring ended early with an injury. AP/John Bazemore

What’s the buzz?: “I think it’s good to have quality depth. I do think that we’ve got some ability at the position. Lorenzo is going to play both quarterback and receiver. So there’ll be enough reps, especially early in camp, to define where everything is.” -- Muschamp

Key weapons: Not only is the quarterback situation uncertain, so are the skill positions. Leading receivers Pharoh Cooper (66 catches, 973 yards, eight touchdowns), Jerell Adams (28-421, 3 TDs) and Brandon Wilds (17-142) are all gone. Wilds (567 rushing yards, 3 TDs) was also the team’s leading rusher. Sophomore Deebo Samuel (12-161, 1 TD) is probably the top option at wideout, although Nunez could develop into a true weapon and freshman Bryan Edwards also might be a player to watch.

What to watch: Early enrollee Brandon McIlwain, ESPN’s No. 118 overall prospect and No. 7 dual-threat quarterback in 2016, was impressive in the spring and gained valuable experience after Orth’s spring ended early with an injury. McIlwain is still a true freshman, though, so his performance in the opener against a stout Vanderbilt defense (assuming both Orth and McIlwain play) should tell us a lot about his readiness to face SEC competition.

Next in line: Even if Orth holds onto the starting job, freshmen McIlwain and Jake Bentley both possess the talent to become solid SEC performers. Bentley -- the son of running backs coach Bobby Bentley -- skipped his senior season of high school to enroll at South Carolina this year. He hasn’t had as much time as the other contenders and might be a redshirt candidate this year.

Grade: C-minus. This grade will almost certainly be higher in the near future, but quarterback is still a major question mark at South Carolina for now.