One thing we aren’t talking enough about before the 2026 season: South Carolina

Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

By Chris Marler

We continue our positivity series by spotlighting one underrated positive for each SEC team. Today, we head South Carolina.

The roster construction and it basically being 2024 2.0

That 2024 season may not look as impressive to some outside of Columbia, but if you remember the way that season went, it should.

South Carolina finished 9-4, and before a meaningless loss in the Cheez-It Bowl to Illinois, they had the longest winning streak of any team in the SEC. They finished the second half of the season with six wins over four ranked teams, and were an eyelash short of reaching the CFP that year.

That roster was deep at positions that were imperative to their run in 2024 as much as they were depleted during their 4-8 season in 2025. This year that changes. Most importantly, it changes in the trenches.

The way this roster has been constructed, especially on the defensive side of the ball, is almost identical to the way it was in 2024. It may even be better. There’s depth in the interior defensive line like there was in 2024 when they had multiple defensive tackles register four or more sacks and be selected in the NFL Draft.

They have an elite pass rusher on one side in Dylan Stewart that is even more talented and disruptive than the 2024 SEC Defensive Player of the year Kyle Kennard was. Helping Kennard that year was a freshman five star and instant impact player (Stewart). In walks five-star, homegrown product Julian Walker this season.

Nobody on planet earth moves like Dylan Stewart pic.twitter.com/d0twJ8qyGN

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) April 27, 2026

That 2024 defense also returned every starter in their linebacking corps which they did in 2026, as well. Finally, the back end of that defense was incredibly talented and helped force 24 turnovers. That shouldn’t change this year either considering the talent they return in the secondary, and elite young talent they brought in that could see the field immediately.

All of that will combine to play for a defensive coordinator whose units have forced an SEC leading 110 takeaways in the five years he’s been at the helm.

There are so many things to like about this South Carolina team this year. They have elite talent at the most important positions in the sport. They have three of the top-30 ranked players in the country according to On3: LaNorris Sellers, Dylan Stewart and Jacarrius Peak. They also are deeper at wide receiver and offensive line than they have been in any year Shane Beamer has been there. And, they play arguably the easiest schedule they’ve had in over a decade or more. That includes seven of their ten Power Four opponents breaking in a new quarterback.

All of that seems to have been talked about a decent amount, though. The roster being reconstructed to mirror what they had in 2024 is what should excite Gamecock fans more than anything.

You wanna see a fun story about development?

Nick Emmanwori
3 Star | No. 435 OVR | No. 39 S

TJ Sanders
3 Star | No. 670 OVR | No. 81 DL

Demetrius Knight Jr
3 Star | No. 1284 OVR | No. 31 Dual QB

ALL 3 became Top 50 NFL Draft Picks after going to South Carolina. #SpursUp pic.twitter.com/9WX8BBT1Y8

— Chris Marler (@Vern_Funquist) April 26, 2025