Gamecock stock watch: Who’s up, who’s down for South Carolina after LSU game

After suffering its first loss of the season to No. 16 LSU on Saturday, South Carolina gets to enjoy a fairly laid-back next two weeks.

This weekend, the Gamecocks (2-1, 1-1 SEC) will play against one-win Akron, which lost 49-17 to Rutgers two weeks ago. After that, South Carolina will be on its first of two bye weeks before Ole Miss comes into Williams-Brice Stadium on Oct. 5.

Here’s our stock report before the Gamecocks enter Week 4:

STOCK UP

Rocket Sanders

For most of the second half against LSU, Sanders felt like the entirety of South Carolina’s offense, accounting for 36% of the Gamecocks total offense on Saturday.

The Arkansas transfer, who has been touted as one of the best tailbacks in the SEC — ever since he rushed for over 1,400 yards in 2022 — got off to a relatively slow start as a Gamecock. Through two games this season, he had accounted for just 142 yards and two touchdowns.

On Saturday, though, he looked different. More explosive. More violent. More like his 2022 self. The senior rushed 19 times for 143 yards (over 7 yards per carry) and two scores, including a 66-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Here’s another thing: He was the safety blanket. The Gamecocks were a dreadful 3 of 12 on third downs against LSU — but it should be noted that Sanders only touched the ball twice on third down and he moved the chains on one and scored a touchdown on the other.

His production also becomes much more important when you consider that the other USC tailbacks have struggled mightily. Djay Braswell didn’t even make the dress list. Juju McDowell and Jawarn Howell both never got a carry. And the Gamecocks only handed the ball to Oscar Adaway III one time — a 1-yard gain.

LaNorris Sellers

Now this hinges on the ankle injury he suffered on Saturday not being serious. And going only by Sellers postgame comments and coach Shane Beamer’s remark on Sunday that Sellers is “feeling OK,” it’s nothing serious enough to keep him out for a long stretch.

So, instead, buy stock now.

Sellers played his best half of college football on Saturday. He had the Gamecocks up 24-16 going to the break after completing 9-of-15 passes for 112 yards while rushing 10 times for 88 yards and two scores — including the longest touchdown run by a South Carolina quarterback.

Even against a great defense, football again looked easy for Sellers. He made good decisions. He opened the game with a methodical touchdown drive. He seemed to be finding the right balance between when to use his legs and when to throw the ball. It all seemed to be coming together.

Now, there’s still room to grow — he fumbled for the fourth time in three games and wasn’t always getting the ball out quick enough. But there was vast improvement and if he finishes that game and helps lead the Gamecocks to victory, the narrative around Sellers would be even grander.

STOCK DOWN

Attention to detail

This is not going to be about the officiating because I — like you — still cannot explain that offensive pass interference call in the third quarter.

Still, South Carolina was called for 13 penalties on Saturday — the most flags its totaled since 1998. And, sure, there are some questionable penalties in there, but only a couple. A large majority of those 13 flags was for silly, very-preventable things.

With under five minutes to play and South Carolina leading, Vershon Lee false started on third and 2. The Gamecocks punted soon after and LSU would score the game-winning touchdown on its ensuring drive.

And on a fourth-down play during that drive, QB Garrett Nussmeier’s pass to the sideline was incomplete. The Gamecocks would have been a first down away from winning the game, but the Tigers drive continued because EDGE Kyle Kennard jumped offsides. A few plays later Kennard didn’t even jump, but was lined up completely offsides and LSU moved within 2 yards of the end zone.

On the final drive, South Carolina was running its hurry-up offense but couldn’t get set before the ball was spiked. It was called for a false start and Beamer was forced to burn his second timeout to avoid a 10-second runoff.

That’s just scratching the surface. The point is: the Gamecocks were sloppy when it mattered most. Folks will dissect the major penalties that were iffy, but the Gamecocks still could have easily won the game if they just lined up correctly.

Keeping the quarterback upright

I am not pointing the finger at the offensive line. Repeat: I am not pointing the finger at the offensive line.

No, this falls on a lot of people. Through three games, only two teams in America have given up more sacks than South Carolina (13). The big problem is a number of those sacks are way too easy. In many cases, the quarterback is not going down because the offensive line completely caves in — that certainly accounts for a few of the sacks, but not as many as you’d think.

On a number of the takedowns, a completely-unblocked defender is running 20 mph at South Carolina’s quarterback. That blame falls on the coaching staff, because it’s now been an issue for three weeks.

And then the quarterbacks deserve their share of criticism. Both Sellers and Robby Ashford had plays where a defender was bolting right at them and they froze. They have to have the awareness to get rid of the ball quicker and have a better sense of when to throw it away.

HOLDING STEADY

Kyle Kennard/Dylan Stewart

We couldn’t get enough Kennard and Stewart stock after the first two weeks of the season. In the SEC opener, the EDGE duo combined for two sacks, a forced fumble and so much more destruction that didn’t show up in the stat sheet.

Then they faced the best offensive line in the SEC — maybe in the country.

LSU, led by tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones Jr., held Kennard and Stewart mostly in check. The true freshman was held without a tackle and Kennard did have 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss but also got flagged for numerous penalties.

There is no reason to be dissuaded into a new opinion on South Carolina’s Tasmanian devils after the LSU game. Just keep holding.

The pass catchers

A few weeks ago, we said the stock was down for the Gamecocks wide receivers. And since then, have the Gamecocks pass catchers done anything to get you excited? Anything that would make you more bullish?

Perhaps a tad. Jared Brown, who dropped a should-have-been touchdown against Old Dominion, has been the best receiver the past two week, but he missed most of the second half with an injury. True freshman Mazeo Bennett was stellar against Kentucky, but then caught just one pass on Saturday. There’s just no consistency. Nor is there a breakout target.

Only once so far (Brown against Kentucky) has a Gamecock caught more than three passes. That’s crazy.

Now, Sellers getting hurt and missing most of the seconf half against LSU didn’t hurt. The offensive scheme being focused on the rushing attack doesn’t bolster WR stats either. But the reality is: South Carolina has one of the worst passing offenses in America and it’s hard to believe that will change until we see it.