New depth chart affirms Gamecocks’ expected opt-outs for Citrus Bowl

Juju McDowell or Oscar Adaway will start at tailback for South Carolina in the Cheez-it Citrus Bowl. That’s according to the Gamecocks’ pre-bowl depth chart released Thursday evening.

One of the veterans will replace Raheim “Rocket” Sanders in the bowl game. Sanders declared for the NFL Draft on Dec. 19 via a social media post but didn’t explicitly say he wasn’t playing in the Citrus Bowl. He is not listed on the updated South Carolina depth chart.

The Gamecocks face Illinois at 3 p.m. Dec. 31 (ABC) at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Sanders led USC’s backs with 183 carries for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns, and added 316 receiving yards and two more scores. He was a senior with no college eligibility left after 2024.

Adaway was second among tailbacks with 63 carries for 226 yards, while McDowell ran 21 times for 87 yards.

South Carolina coach Shane Beamer confirmed Dec. 18 that star edge rusher Kyle Kennard would not play for USC in the bowl game as he prepares for the pros. Kennard led the SEC with 11.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss. He won the Bronco Nagurski Award, given to the top defensive player in college football.

The updated USC depth chart lists three players as the possible starter in Kennard’s place: Bryan Thomas Jr., Gilber Edmond and Desmond Umeozulu.

Injured tight end Brady Hunt is listed on the depth chart behind starter Joshua Simon.

Illinois will be without leading receiver Pat Bryant (54 receptions, 984 yards, 10 touchdowns). Bryant’s decision to opt out was announced in early December by coach Bret Bielema.

South Carolina depth chart

——OFFENSE——

• QB: LaNorris Sellers (Robby Ashford)

• RB: Juju McDowell —OR— Oscar Adaway III

• TE: Joshua Simon (Brady Hunt)

• TE: Michael Smith (Maurice Brown II)

• WR: Nyck Harbor —OR— Jared Brown —OR— Dalevon Campbell)

• WR: Mazeo Bennett Jr. —OR— Payton Mangrum —OR— Luke Doty

• WR: Gage Larvadain —OR— Vandrevius Lacobs

• LT: Josiah Thompson (Tree Babalade)

• LG: Kamaar Bell (Markee Anderson)

• RG: Torricelli Simpkins III —OR— Trovon Baugh

• RT: Cason Henry (Jatavius Shivers)

• OC: Vershon Lee (Ryan Brubaker)

——DEFENSE——

• Edge: Bryan Thomas Jr. —OR— Gilber Edmond —OR — Desmond Umeozulu

• Edge: Dylan Stewart (Bryan Thomas Jr. —OR— Jatius Geer)

• DT: Tonka Hemingway —OR— T.J. Sanders (Monkell Goodwine)

• DT: Alex Huntley (Nick Barrett —OR— DeAndre Jules)

• MLB: Demetrius Knight Jr. (Fred “JayR” Johnson)

• WLB: Debo Williams (Bam Martin-Scott)

• NICK: Jalon Kilgore (Kelvin Hunter —OR— Jalewis Solomon)

• CB: O’Donnell Fortune (Emory Floyd —OR— David Spaulding)

• CB: Judge Collier (Vacari Swain)

• SS: DQ Smith (Peyton Williams)

• FS: Nick Emmanwori (David Bucey —OR— Gerald Kilgore)

——SPECIAL TEAMS——

• PK: Alex Herrera (Mason Love, William Joyce)
  
  

• P: Kai Kroeger (Mason Love)

• LSN: Hunter Rogers (Cole Rasmussen)

• H: Kai Kroeger (Mason Love)

• KOR: Juju McDowell (Nyck Harbor)

• PR: Juju McDowell (Gage Larvadain)