The 2019 South Carolina Gamecocks football team (variously South Carolina, USC, SC, or The Gamecocks) represented the University of South Carolina in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. This season marked the Gamecocks 126th overall season, 28th as a member of the SEC East Division. The Gamecocks played their home games at Williams–Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina, and were led by fourth-year head coach Will Muschamp.
In 2019, South Carolina finished with a final record of 4–8. The highlight of the season was the upset over No. 3 Georgia, on the road in double overtime, with the Gamecocks being 24.5-point underdogs. It was South Carolina's first win over a ranked opponent since 2016.
Preseason
2019 recruiting class South Carolina jumped out to a fast start for recruiting the 2019 class with early commitments from 4 star Defensive Lineman Rodricus Fitten, and 3 star Offensive tackle Jaylen Nichols. In January 2018 the Gamecocks received commitments from 4 star OT Mark Fox out of Miami, and 3 star JUCO DE Devontae Davis from Georgia Military College. USC also picked up 3 star center, Vincent Murphy from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Florida.
On April 4, 2018, 4 star QB Ryan Hilinski out of Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, California committed to South Carolina. Ryan is the brother of the former Washington State QB Tyler Hilinski. Also in April, 4 star TE Traevon Kenion committed to the Gamecocks.
On May 25, 5 star defensive end Zacch Pickens committed to South Carolina.
SEC media poll The 2019 SEC Media Days were held July 15–18 in Birmingham, Alabama. In the preseason media poll, South Carolina was projected to finish in fourth in the East Division.
Preseason All-SEC teams The Gamecocks had two players selected to the preseason all-SEC teams.
Offense
3rd team
Bryan Edwards – WR
Defense
2nd team
Javon Kinlaw – DL
Schedule South Carolina announced its 2019 football schedule on September 18, 2018. The 2019 schedule consists of 7 home and 4 away games along with one neutral site game in the regular season. The Gamecocks hosted SEC foes; Alabama, Kentucky, Florida, and Vanderbilt. They traveled to face; Missouri, Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas A&M. South Carolina's nonconference schedule features teams from the ACC, Big South, and Sun Belt. They faced North Carolina in neutral site game in Charlotte, NC, and hosted Charleston Southern (Big South), Appalachian State (Sun Belt), and Clemson (ACC).
According to ESPN and other outlets, South Carolina had the toughest schedule in the country.
ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum described the toughness of the Gamecocks schedule. “I don’t think anyone could argue against the following statement that South Carolina has the hardest schedule in the country, it is absolutely brutal. There is just no getting around it. So knowing that you have Alabama, knowing that you have Georgia and Clemson. By almost everyone’s projections, those are the No. 1, 2 and 3 schools in the country."
As part of their penalty for NCAA violations, Tennessee has retroactively vacated its 2019 victory over South Carolina. However, the penalty to vacate victories does not result in a loss (or forfeiture) of the affected game or award a victory to the opponent, therefore South Carolina still considers the game a loss in their official records.
Personnel
Coaching staff NamePositionConsecutive season Will Muschamp Head coach 4th Bobby Bentley Tight ends coach 4th Travaris Robinson Defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach 4th Bryan McClendon Offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach 4th Thomas Brown Running backs coach 1st John Scott Jr. Defensive line coach 1st Eric Wolford Offensive line coach 3rd Coleman Hutzler Linebackers coach and special teams coordinator 4th Mike Peterson Outside linebackers coach 3rd Dan Werner Quarterbacks coach 2nd Kyle Krantz Nickelbacks and strong side linebackers coach, assistant special teams coach 2nd Jeff Dillman Director of Player Strength and Conditioning 4th Matthew Lindsey Director of Player Personnel 3rd Marcus Lattimore Director of Player Development 2nd
Roster 2019 South Carolina Gamecocks Football RosterQuarterback 3 Ryan Hilinski – freshman (6'3, 230) 7 Dakereon Joyner – sophomore (6'1, 205) 10 Jay Urich – sophomore (6'5, 210) 11 Corbett Glick – freshman (6'1, 203) 14 Connor Jordan – freshman (6'4, 197) 19 Jake Bentley – senior (6'4, 220)
Running back 4 Tavien Feaster – senior (6'0, 221) 5 Rico Dowdle – senior (6'0, 215) 14 Deshaun Fenwick – freshman (6'1, 230) 20 Kevin Harris – freshman (5'10, 225) 27 Zachariah Doe – freshman (6'0, 202) 32 Caleb Kinlaw – senior (5'10, 202) 33 Slade Carroll – junior (5'9, 205) 34 Mon Denson – senior (5'10, 215)
Wide receiver 6 Josh Vann – sophomore (5'10, 185) 8 Randrecous Davis – junior (5'10, 190) 13 Shi Smith – junior (5'10, 190) 16 Bailey Hart – junior (6'3, 185) 17 Xavier Legette – freshman (6'0, 205) 18 OrTre Smith – sophomore (6'4, 220) 35 Trey Adkins – freshman (5'11, 170) 80 Kevin Mullins – freshman (6'1, 220) 83 Chavis Dawkins – senior (6'2, 225) 85 Tyquan Johnson – freshman (6'3, 180) 86 Chad Terrell – sophomore (6'3, 220) 89 Bryan Edwards – senior (6'3, 215) Placekicker 40 Eddie Buckhouse – freshman (5'8, 159) 42 Alexander Woznick – junior (5'11, 165) 43 Parker White – junior (6'5, 200) 47 Cole Hanna – junior (6'5, 200) 48 Will Tommie – senior (5'10, 170) Punter 20 Joseph Charlton – senior (6'5, 190) 36 Christian Kinsley – junior (6'2, 225) 45 Alex Herrera – freshman (5'11, 186) 85 Michael Almond – senior (6'3, 223) Tight end 9 Nick Muse – junior (6'3, 234) 12 Traveon Kenion – freshman (6'3, 235) 31 Chandler Farrell – junior (6'3, 295) 41 Caleb Jenerette – sophomore (6'2, 227) 46 Patrick Reedy – freshman (6'7, 250) 82 KeShawn Toney – freshman (6'2, 240) 84 Kyle Markway – senior (6'4, 250) 88 Will Register – sophomore (6'4, 245)
Offensive Lineman 50 Sadarius Hutcherson – junior (6'4, 320) 52 Jaylen Nichols – freshman (6'5, 320) 54 Jovaughn Gwyn – freshman (6'2, 305) 55 Jakai Moore – freshman (6'5, 295) 61 Cameron Johnson – sophomore (6'6, 289) 67 Gavin Bennett – freshman (6'2, 250) 68 Wyatt Campbell – freshman (6'6, 308) 69 John Kanaan – freshman (6'4, 260) 70 Hank Manos – freshman (6'4, 290) 71 Eric Douglas – sophomore (6'4, 315) 72 Donell Stanley – senior (6'3, 322) 73 Summie Carlay – sophomore (6'5, 295) 74 Vincent Murphy – freshman (6'2, 290) 75 Jordon Carty – sophomore (6'7, 310) 76 Jordan Rhodes – sophomore (6'4, 330) 78 M.J. Webb – sophomore (6'3, 290) 79 Dylan Wonnum – sophomore (6'5, 310) Defensive Lineman 3 Javon Kinlaw – senior (6'6, 310) 5 Keir Thomas – senior (6'2, 275) 8 D. J. Wonnum – senior (6'5, 260) 15 Aaron Sterling – junior (6'1, 250) 16 Rodricus Fitten – freshman (6'1, 245) 19 Brad Johnson – junior (6'2, 250) 26 Zacch Pickens – freshman (6'3, 300) 35 Daniel Fennell – senior (6'2, 255) 50 Griffin Gentry – junior (6'1, 275) 51 Donovan Witt – junior (6'2, 242) 52 Kingsley Enagbare – sophomore (6'4, 260) 57 Jazuun Outlaw – sophomore (6'2, 235) 59 Alex DeLoach – sophomore (6'3, 212) 90 Rick Sandidge – sophomore (6'5, 300) 91 Jaquaze Sorrells – freshman (6'2, 314) 92 Tyreek Johnson – freshman (6'3, 270) 93 Joseph Anderson – freshman (6'3, 280) 95 Kobe Smith – senior (6'2, 300) 96 Devontae Davis – junior (6'3, 300) 99 Jabari Ellis – junior (6'3, 280) Linebacker 6 T. J. Brunson – senior (6'1, 230) 11 Eldridge Thompson – senior (6'1, 225) 23 Derek Boykins-Brooks – freshman (6'1, 226) 30 Damani Staley – junior (6'0, 235) 40 Jahmar Brown – freshman (6'1, 205) 42 Rosendo Louis Jr. – sophomore (6'2, 250) 44 Sherrod Greene – junior (6'1, 230) 45 Spencer Eason-Riddle – junior (6'0, 230) 46 Noah Vincent – freshman (6'1, 215) 48 Sean McGonigal – sophomore (6'1, 225) 53 Ernest Jones – sophomore (6'2, 235)
Defensive back 1 Jaycee Horn – sophomore (6'1, 200) 4 Jaylin Dickerson – sophomore (6'1, 195) 7 Jammie Robinson – freshman (5'11, 200) 9 Cam Smith – freshman (6'0, 185) 10 R.J. Roderick – sophomore (6'0, 200) 12 Shilo Sanders – freshman (6'0, 190) 21 Jamyest Williams – junior (5'8, 180) 22 John Dixon – freshman (6'0, 190) 24 Israel Mukuamu – sophomore (6'4, 205) 25 A.J. Turner – senior (5'10, 190) 28 Darius Rush – freshman (6'2, 195) 29 J.T. Ibe – senior (5'10, 195) 31 Jamel Cook – junior (6'4, 200) 39 Dawson Hoffman – freshman (5'11, 200) 41 James Bartholomew – sophomore (5'9, 170) 43 Jaylon Dubose – freshman (6'2, 197) 47 Jordan Villafane – sophomore (5'10, 175) 49 Jaylan Foster – junior (5'10, 184) Long snappers 59 Matthew Bailey – freshman (6'2, 185) : 2019 South Carolina Gamecocks Football Roster 08/27/19
Depth chart
Game summaries
Vs. North Carolina
Charleston Southern
Alabama
At Missouri
Kentucky
At Georgia
Florida
At Tennessee
Vanderbilt
Appalachian State
At Texas A&M
Clemson
Schedule source:
Rankings
Players drafted into the NFL
1 14 Javon Kinlaw DT San Francisco 49ers 3 81 Bryan Edwards WR Las Vegas Raiders 4 117 D. J. Wonnum DE Minnesota Vikings 7 238 T. J. Brunson ILB New York Giants
References