By: Ford Wilder
To begin, the South Carolina Gamecocks are off to an okay start to the 2024 season.
They are 3-2 and their two losses have come to top fifteen-ranked SEC opponents LSU and Ole Miss. The Gamecocks are looking to at least become bowl-eligible and finish the season off strong. This will be tough though because they have a very tough October slate of games. They will face ranked SEC opponents Alabama, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma. To go along with that the Gamecocks defense looks quite strong, and is playing well. The problem is the offense.
The South Carolina offense has been led by Lanorris Sellers thus far who has shown great glimpses of what he can be, but also poor moments setting the offense back. Sellers has been productive on the ground game with 55 carries for 200 yards and 3 touchdowns. Where he has struggled though is in the pass game. Through four games he has completed 49 passes of 85 attempts with 555 yards,2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. This combines for a QBR of 43.4 which is 96th in the country. This struggle in the pass game has set the Gamecocks offense back tremendously causing them to only put up 3 points versus Ole Miss. To give Lanorris the benefit of the doubt the receiving core and offensive line have been sort of lackluster but this does not excuse the poor decisions and throws he has made consistently throughout the year. His lack of experience is showing against fast and physical SEC defenses. If this continues it may be time for the Gamecocks to look for a change.
Adjacently, this is where Robby Ashford comes into play. Ashford transferred to USC this year after playing at Auburn the previous years. Ashford has SEC starting experience under the Tigers and showed his great dual threat capabilities there where he rushed for 710 yards and 7 touchdowns at Auburn in 2022 and also threw for 9 touchdowns. Ashford has started one game this season for the Gamecocks this year against Akromn after Sellers suffered an ankle sprain against LSU. Akron may not be the greatest opponent but Ashford used this opportunity and showed out. He completed 15 of 21 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for an additional 133 rushing yards and a touchdown. This performance showed many that Ashford may be an option looking ahead for the Gamecocks.
Furthermore, Sellers is considered to be the future of USC as he is just a sophomore compared to Ashford being a senior. This may be true and all but if the Gamecocks want to win right now in the SEC; I believe they should consider starting Ashford due to his experience, and the capabilities he has shown thus far.
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