South Carolina did exactly what an SEC football team is supposed to do against Kent State. The Gamecocks dominated the scoreboard, piled up 645 yards, recorded 35 first downs and pitched a shutout.
That deserves plenty of praise. But Kent State ain’t Alabama, Georgia or LSU. My grades are based not only on what happened Saturday, but on whether that performance will translate when the competition gets serious.
Quarterback: A-
LaNorris Sellers completed 19 of 23 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns in less than three quarters. He looked comfortable in Kendal Briles’ offense, made good decisions and protected the football.
My only complaint was the handful of deep balls he underthrew. Donovan Murph made a terrific adjustment on one of them and turned it into a touchdown, but SEC defensive backs may turn those throws into interceptions.
Overall, though, this was a very good opening performance.
Running backs: A
South Carolina rushed for 278 yards, averaged 7.1 yards per carry and scored four touchdowns on the ground.
Matt Fuller ran hard, Isaiah Augustave found the end zone and Jabree Coleman introduced himself with two touchdowns, including a 60-yard run. There was depth, power and explosiveness throughout the rotation.
This group looked like it could become one of the strengths of the offense.
Wide receivers: A-
This was a promising debut for the new-look receiving corps. Donovan Murph led the way with 92 yards and two touchdowns, while Mazeo Bennett also got into the end zone.
Several receivers were involved, and the Gamecocks finished with 367 passing yards as a team. I still want to see more separation against SEC defensive backs, but this was a strong first step.
Tight ends: B
The tight ends were involved in the offense, but I still want to see Brady Hunt emerge as a major weapon. He has the size and experience to become one of Sellers’ most dependable targets.
This position was solid Saturday. Going forward, I want it to become a matchup problem.
Offensive line: B+
You don’t produce 645 yards, 35 first downs and 57 points without winning up front. The Gamecocks created running lanes and gave Sellers enough time to distribute the football.
However, the illegal procedure on the fifth offensive play immediately reminded me of last season. That stuff has to disappear. The line settled down afterward, but Kent State didn’t provide the kind of pass rush South Carolina will see in the SEC.
Very good day. Still more to prove.
Defensive line: A-
Kent State managed only 179 total yards and never seriously threatened to score. South Carolina controlled the line of scrimmage and kept the Golden Flashes behind schedule for most of the afternoon.
The Gamecocks played without Dylan Stewart and still dominated. That speaks well for the depth of the defensive front.
Linebackers: B+
The linebackers were active, tackled well and helped prevent Kent State from establishing any consistent running game.
There were a few moments when Kent State found room underneath, particularly on screens and short passes. That needs to be cleaned up before South Carolina faces offenses with better athletes in space.
Secondary: A-
You cannot argue too much with a secondary that allowed only 79 passing yards and helped produce a shutout.
The coverage was sound, the tackling was generally good and Kosci Barnes added an interception. As with the linebackers, I saw a few issues defending screens that better teams could exploit.
Special teams: B+
The coverage units did their job, the return game was solid and South Carolina avoided the kind of special-teams disaster that can give an underdog life.
Nothing spectacular was required, but the operation was clean and dependable.
Coaching: A
Kendal Briles deserves a hell of a lot of credit. His first game produced 645 yards, 57 points, 35 first downs and touchdowns from six different players. He spread the football around, established the running game and put Sellers in comfortable situations.
I would have liked to see a little more tempo, but it was about 500 degrees inside Williams-Brice Stadium. I can understand managing the conditions.
I also appreciated that there were no unnecessary fourth-down gambles from Shane Beamer. Take the points, control the field and beat the team you are supposed to beat.
Overall grade: A-
A 57-0 victory is a damn good opening day. South Carolina dominated statistically, protected the football and got meaningful snaps for a lot of players.
But I’m not handing out championship rings for beating Kent State. The underthrown deep balls, early procedural penalty and vulnerability against screens are all things that need correcting.
This was a very good win. It was not proof that every concern has disappeared. The Gamecocks passed their first test convincingly—now the standard gets higher.
