South Carolina enters the season as perhaps the SEC’s most veteran unit. The Gamecocks boast a stingy, experienced defense and enough offensive weapons to be effective against even the toughest clubs. But questions on the defensive line, coupled with, at times, horrendous special teams could leave head coach Lou Holtz searching for answers that may not exist.

South Carolina can either spread the field or go with a power-based attack. The safe money is on a ground control game, due mainly to injury questions at the quarterback position and a stable of effective running backs. The success of this unit is largely dependent on whether running back Derek Watson can stay out of off-the-field trouble.

When he’s healthy, Phil Petty is a good match for this system, which doesn’t ask too much of its quarterbacks. But when Petty is banged up or off the field – which was the case far too often in 2000 – South Carolina will struggle. Walk-on junior Erik Kimrey backs up Petty, but he has neither the arm nor the mobility to be a threat in the SEC. Dondrial Pinkins is the quarterback of the future, an elusive runner but as of yet, an unpolished passer. Keeping Petty healthy will be one of the main goals for this year’s offensive line.

Few teams boast a better backfield combo than South Carolina, which has running back Derek Watson and fullback Andrew Pinnock at its disposal. Pinnock can also play tailback, specializing in short-yardage situations. Wide receiver Ryan Brewer can also play the running back position in a pinch, and youngster Trevin Smith averaged more than 11 yards per carry in 2000. Travis Lewis, once a defensive lineman, gives the Gamecocks a boost as a short-yardage fullback. The key is Watson, who is a supreme talent but is often lacking in the judgment department. Watson was recently reinstated to the team for the 2001 season after having served a suspension for team rules violations. If he can stay in the clear, USC will be fine. If he gets in trouble again, it might force the Gamecocks into the air more often.

Brian Scott will be the go-to man in 2001. Scott caught 32 passes for 520 yards in 2000, giving him the best overall stats of any of the returning players. Ryan Brewer, who will also see time at running back, caught one more pass but averaged less than 10 yards per reception. James Adkisson is torturing the coaching staff; he’s 6’4", 220 pounds and has the speed scouts drool over. But he has not proven to be a steady force. He joins Carlos Spikes in competition with Brewer for the slot opposite Scott. South Carolina also must find a new tight end, and Rod Trafford and Hart Turner are the early favorites.

Four starters return from the 2000 unit, and the number would be five if Phillip Jones wasn’t hurt. Jones’ injury appears terminal for his career. Melvin Paige could be the conference’s best right tackle, and he’ll line up next to Shane Hall, who takes Jones’ slot. Larrell Johnson and C.J. Frye will compete for the center position with Travelle Wharton and Cedric Williams manning the left side. South Carolina will put a very experienced group on the field, with nine of the ten players in the two-deep claiming at least one varsity letter.

As experienced as the offense is, South Carolina’s defense might be even more formidable. If the Gamecocks can answer questions on the defensive line, this group could be one of the strongest SEC defenses in years. Aside from safety Deandre Eiland, every starter is at least a two-letter junior.

Dennis Quinn returns as a starter at end, and he can be a true gamebreaker. But Quinn, at only 255 pounds, is being asked to play a middle-in position in a 3-3-5 defensive set, which means he will almost always line up against players substantially larger than he is. Langston Moore takes over for Cleveland Pinkney in the middle, and he is a quality player. John Stamper draws the other end assignment. He is not the greatest of defensive ends, but is a three-letter senior. Willie Sams brings experience to the backup noseguard spot. The reserve ends, Jonathan Alston and Jason Capers, have talent but no experience. Junior college transfer Shaun Smith should play early.

As talented a group as there is in the SEC, the Gamecocks’ lineup of Kenny Harney in the middle flanked by Shannon Wadley and Kalimba Edwards figures to be a fearsome group. Edwards, in particular, is a player to watch. Oversized for a linebacker, Edwards will often move into a "Jack" end position to rush the passer. The key here is Harney, who must remain healthy and effective in the middle. When not having to fend off a double team, Wadley and Edwards are two of the best at their trade. The players behind these three men, however, have virtually no experience at all. Injury luck will be key.

This is the conference’s best secondary overall and perhaps the best in the country, as well. If corners Andre Goodman and Sheldon Brown are the Dobermans who scare trouble away, safeties Rashad Faison, Antoine Nesmith, Deandre Eiland and Willie Offord are the Pit Bulls who take care of the ones dumb enough to try to get by the Dobermans. Brown and Faison in particular are garnering widespread preseason attention at their respective posts. Nesmith, Jonathan Martin and Kevin House give Holtz a bevy of weapons coming off the bench.

This is assuredly the team’s weakness. Punter Tyeler Dean returns, but he averaged less than 40 yards per kick in 2000 and was not consistent enough. The placekicking job is likely to fall to incoming freshman Josh Brown. Reid Bethea, who held the job last year, was only 9 of 14 on field goals and is regarded as a liability.

South Carolina will win much the same way that Gene Stallings’ Alabama teams of the 90’s won – tight defense and ball control. The missing element for South Carolina is the kicking game. If the Gamecocks cannot establish a sound kicking game in a hurry, the potential for a 9- or 10-win season decreases significantly. If the kicking game gels, the Gamecocks have the potential to do something special in 2001.