By: TJ Hartnett

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

It’s a little strange to consider that a team that won 9 games to 4 losses in 2017 had an underwhelming season but the South Carolina Gamecocks managed to pull off just such an unexpected feat last year.

Will Muschamp led a team that did not put up a lot of big point totals or make lots of flashy plays, which probably has a lot to do with it. Add that to a couple of surprising losses to Kentucky and to Texas A&M and there were a lot of people writing them off.

The question is, how will South Carolina follow up an underwhelming/pretty good season in 2018?

They will almost certainly be a better team on the field and they should be confident of that.

Deebo Samuel is a huge reason for that confidence. The wide receiver successes have been rightfully celebrated and he gives veteran quarterback Jake Bentley a target that other teams would love to have.

Breaking his leg after putting up 474 all-purpose yards and scoring 6 touchdowns last season postponed his coronation as possibly the best player in the SEC but if he can stay on the field in 2018 he has got a great chance of being crowned.

Speaking of offensive weapons with broken legs, Rico Dowdle should be healthy and running with the ball for the entire year as well, giving the Gamecocks yet another option to boost those scores.

On the other side of the ball, South Carolina needs to step up their game on the pass rush. Twenty-six sacks in 2017 will not cut it, though six of those sacks came from the returning D.J. Wonnum. If he can lead the other tackles and put more pressure on opposing QBs, then the secondary will benefit in a big way.

There is also the matter of the schedule, it can be taken advantage of. Georgia and Clemson loom large up ahead and will be looked at as major challenges for South Carolina. However, the rest of the reason looks favorable Muschamp and company.

Perhaps the biggest plus is the absence of LSU and Alabama. Luck of the draw, but it is still something they need to appreciate and make the most of.

Florida and Tennessee are usually powerhouses, but they look like they might continue their recent struggles in the near future.

Texas A&M is on the schedule again and the Gamecocks should be primed to take their revenge after being embarrassing defeated by the Aggies last year.

Another positive is that this team is already better than last year’s and there are still positional battles to be worked out.

Muschamp has called on his defensive line to step up this year and it is down to Keir Thomas or Kobe Smith to grab the bull by the horns at defensive tackle. Thomas has bulked up and Smith has two seasons’ worth of game under this belt, so there are good options here.

Jamyest Williams is competing with Jaylin Dickerson, with the latter returning from an injury.  Tavyn Jackson is also in the mix here, moving from cornerback.  Dickerson had the most notable spring and Williams could essentially trade slots with Jackson and go back to his natural position at cornerback. It remains to be seen how this one will shake out.

Tight end is another one to watch, with K.C. Crosby and Jacob August vying to replace Hayden Hurst, who was snatched up in the first round. Both could be reliable but one will need to step up. Of note, Crosby also broke his leg last year.

A 9-4 team that should be significantly better is going to make some real waves in 2018.  That is what the South Carolina Gamecocks are looking to be this season.