South Carolina did exactly what it was supposed to do against Kent State, beating the hell out of them 57–0 and rolling up 645 yards of offense.
Now comes another game the Gamecocks should control from the opening kickoff. But that does not make it meaningless. Towson provides one more opportunity to correct mistakes, develop depth and answer a few questions before the schedule becomes considerably less forgiving.
Here are my five dudes to watch Saturday night.
1. LaNorris Sellers, Quarterback
Sellers was 19-of-23 for 270 yards and three touchdowns against Kent State. Those are excellent numbers, but numbers never tell the entire story.
He left several explosive plays on the field by underthrowing receivers who had beaten the secondary. Against Kent State, those balls were still completed. Against SEC defensive backs, some of them will become interceptions.
I want to see Sellers take another step in Kendal Briles’ offense, particularly with his deep-ball placement. Put the ball out in front and let Nyck Harbor, Donovan Murph and the rest of those receivers run underneath it.
This is not about padding Heisman numbers against Towson. It is about sharpening the details before those details start deciding football games.
2. Jabree Coleman, Running Back
Coleman introduced himself to Gamecock fans with two touchdowns, including a 60-yard run that showed exactly why South Carolina brought him in from Penn State.
Towson just surrendered 506 rushing yards to Navy. Obviously, Carolina does not run Navy’s offense, but there is no reason the Gamecocks should not control the line of scrimmage and run the football effectively.
The question is whether Coleman can begin separating himself in a crowded backfield. South Carolina has several capable backs, but Coleman brings a combination of size, patience and explosiveness that could make him the dude Briles leans on when SEC play begins.
I want to see him get meaningful carries early—not simply mop-up work after the game has already been decided.
3. Donovan Murph, Wide Receiver
Murph caught two touchdown passes in the opener and already appears to be developing some chemistry with Sellers.
At 6-foot-2 and nearly 200 pounds, he gives South Carolina a physical target who can win through contact and become a weapon in the red zone. This receiving corps has plenty of speed, but Murph may become the guy Sellers trusts when he needs a difficult catch in traffic.
Now I want to see him expand that role. Can he consistently create separation? Can he make plays outside the red zone? Can he become more than a complementary piece?
The Gamecocks need somebody to emerge as a dependable, every-down receiver. Murph has an opportunity to become that dude.
4. Judge Collier, Defensive Back
Towson may be 0–2, but quarterback Andrew Indorf has completed better than 70 percent of his passes and thrown for 475 yards and four touchdowns.
The Tigers hit Navy with completions of 48, 47 and 30 yards, so they are not afraid to push the football downfield. That makes this a good test for South Carolina’s secondary—particularly Judge Collier.
Collier led the Gamecocks with four tackles against Kent State, but Towson should challenge him more vertically. He is the veteran of this secondary, and I want to see him erase his side of the field, communicate with the safeties and prevent cheap explosive plays.
South Carolina should dominate this game. The one thing it cannot do is allow Towson to hang around by giving up deep balls.
5. Anthony Addison, Edge Rusher
With Dylan Stewart unavailable for the opener, Addison made the most of his opportunity. He recorded South Carolina’s only sack and added two quarterback hurries.
Towson wants to throw the football, and that means the Gamecocks should have opportunities to turn loose their pass rush. Addison does not have to become Dylan Stewart, but South Carolina desperately needs another edge defender who can consistently create pressure.
This is a chance for Addison to prove that his performance against Kent State was not a one-game flash. If he can win off the edge again, collapse the pocket and make Indorf uncomfortable, the Gamecocks may have found another important piece for the SEC grind.
This game should not be about whether South Carolina wins. It should be about how the Gamecocks win and what they learn about themselves in the process.
Those are my five dudes to watch.
