The 2022 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. This season marked the Gamecocks' 129th overall season, and 31st 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 second-year head coach Shane Beamer.
The 2022 Gamecocks squad displayed significant growth under Shane Beamer's leadership in his second year as head coach. Despite inconsistent production and a lackluster rush defense throughout the season, the Gamecocks finished on a high note, posting an 8–5 record and finishing the season ranked at No. 23 in both the Coaches and AP poll.
The Gamecocks' eight wins were the most since 2017. Along the way, they won four consecutive games, won three true road games, defeated archrival Clemson, and finished ranked, all for the first time since 2013. Additionally, they defeated Texas A&M, three top-15 teams, and back-to-back top-ten opponents, all for the first time in program history.
The consecutive victories over No. 5 Tennessee and No. 8 Clemson have been described as "two of the biggest upsets in program history". Hosting Tennessee, South Carolina's dominant 63–38 victory set the record for most points scored by an unranked team against a top-five team in college football history. Quarterback Spencer Rattler's six touchdowns broke the school record for most touchdown passes in a single game. South Carolina fans stormed the field for the first time since 2001. At Clemson, South Carolina snapped the Tigers' 40-game home winning streak. It was also the Gamecocks' first win over Clemson since 2013. It was just the seventh time in history that a school had defeated AP top-ten opponents in consecutive weeks as an unranked team, and the first since 2003.
The 2022 special teams have also been considered arguably the greatest Gamecock special teams of all time, earning the No. 1 spot in ESPN's efficiency ranking.
Schedule South Carolina and the SEC announced the 2022 football schedule on September 21, 2021.
Game summaries at No. 16 Arkansas
vs. No. 1 Georgia (rivalry)
vs. Texas A&M (rivalry)
Statistics Statistics TAMUSC First downs 23 13 Total yards 398 286 Rushing yards 129 118 Passing yards 269 168 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 33:08 26:52 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas A&M Passing Haynes King 17/32, 178 yards, TD, INT Rushing De’Von Achane 20 rushes, 99 yards, TD Receiving Evan Stewart 6 receptions, 87 yardsSouth Carolina Passing Spencer Rattler 12/25, 168 yards Rushing MarShawn Lloyd 18 rushes, 92 yards, 2 TD Receiving Austin Stogner 3 receptions, 46 yards
at Florida
at No. 8 Clemson (rivalry)
vs. No. 21 Notre Dame (Gator Bowl)
Statistics ND SC First downs 27 20 Total yards 558 352 Rushes/yards 46–264 22–65 Passing yards 294 287 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–34–3 31–49–1 Time of possession 36:39 23:21 Team Category Player StatisticsNotre Dame Passing Tyler Buchner 18/33, 274 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT Rushing Audric Estimé 14 carries, 95 yards Receiving Braden Lenzy 4 receptions, 89 yards, TDSouth Carolina Passing Spencer Rattler 29/46, 246 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Juju McDowell 6 carries, 28 yards Receiving Xavier Legette 7 receptions, 78 yards, 2 TD
Roster 2022 South Carolina Gamecocks Football RosterQuarterback 4 Colton Gauthier – freshman (6'3, 215) 7 Spencer Rattler – junior (6'1, 215) 9 Luke Doty – junior (6'1, 210) 11 Braden Davis – freshman (6'5, 205) 15 Tanner Bailey – freshman (6'1, 205) 28 Jake Helfrich – freshman (6'0, 190) 29 Jalen Daniels – freshman (6'4, 215)
Running back 1 MarShawn Lloyd – sophomore (5'9, 212) 8 Christian Beal-Smith – sophomore (5'9, 205) 11 Lovasea Carroll – freshman (6'2, 205) 21 JuJu McDowell – sophomore (5'9, 180) 23 Rashad Amos – sophomore (6'2, 227) 25 Dante Miller – graduate (5'9, 200) 26 Nathan Harris-Waynick – freshman (5'10, 205) 27 D.J. Twitty – senior (6'0, 225) 32 Bradley Dunn – sophomore (5'9, 210) 35 Chase McCracken – freshman
Wide receiver 3 Antwane Wells Jr. – junior (6'1, 207) 5 Dakereon Joyner – senior (6'1, 215) 6 Josh Vann – Fifth Year (5'11, 192) 10 Ahmarean Brown – senior (5'9, 167) 13 Jalen Brooks – Fifth Year (6'2, 205) 16 Corey Rucker – junior (6'1, 212) 17 Xavier Legette – senior (6'3, 220) 19 Ben Rollins – sophomore (5'9, 170) 20 Kylic Horton – freshman (6'4, 205) 24 Eriq Rice – freshman (6'1, 195) 31 DJ Black – freshman (6'1, 195) 81 Aaron Morton – freshman (5'8, 177) 82 Landon Samson – freshman (6'0, 195) 85 Payton Mangrum – sophomore (6'0, 198) 87 Joseph Morris – freshman (6'0, 195) 89 O'Mega Blake – freshman (6'2, 190)
Placekicker 30 Jack Luckhurst – junior (6'2, 185) 40 Alex Herrera – junior (6'2, 212) 42 Daniel Lester – freshman (6'2, 212) 98 Mitch Jeter – junior (5'10, 195) Punter 39 Kai Kroeger – junior (6'4, 207) 45 William Joyce – freshman (6'3, 215) Tight end 0 Jaheim Bell – junior (6'3, 232) 12 Traveon Kenion – junior (6'4, 245) 18 Austin Stogner – graduate (6'5, 250) 22 Zavier Short – freshman (6'2, 220) 44 Nate Adkins – graduate (6'3, 252) 49 Dave Adams – sophomore (6'2, 230) 86 Chad Terrell – Sixth Year (6'3, 237) 88 Jesse Sanders – sophomore (6'3, 245)
Offensive lineman 52 Jaylen Nichols – senior (6'5, 322) 53 Vershon Lee Junior (6'4, 308) 54 Jovaughn Gwyn – senior (6'3, 300) 55 Jakai Moore – junior (6'6, 305) 57 Grayson Mains – freshman (6'5, 300) 60 Jordan Davis – freshman (6'5, 305) 62 Tyshon Wannamaker – sophomore (6'3, 318) 64 JonDarius Morgan – freshman (6'3, 312) 65 Jackson Hall – freshman (6'3, 300) 66 Mac Walters – freshman (6'6, 290) 67 Chase Sweigart – freshman (6'6, 305) 68 Wyatt Campbell – senior (6'6, 310) 70 Hank Manos – senior (6'4, 303) 71 Eric Douglas – Sixth Year (6'4, 297) 72 Trai Jones – sophomore (6'2, 308) 73 Ryan Brubaker – freshman (6'6, 295) 75 Cason Henry – freshman (6'6, 300) 77 Colin Henrich – freshman (6'3, 305) 79 Dylan Wonnum – Fifth Year (6'5, 305)
Defensive lineman 6 Zacch Pickens – senior (6'4, 305) 50 Felix Hixon – freshman (6'3, 300) 54 Jamaal Whyce – freshman (6'3, 305) 64 Demetrius Watson – freshman (6'3, 290) 90 T. J. Sanders – freshman (6'5, 300) 91 Tonka Hemingway – junior (6'3, 295) 93 Nick Barrett – sophomore (6'3, 330) 94 M.J. Webb – senior (6'3, 313) 95 Alex Huntley – sophomore (6'4, 305) 99 D'Andre Martin – senior (6'4, 305) EDGE 4 Terrell Dawkins – junior (6'4, 250) 5 Jordan Burch – junior (6'6, 275) 7 Jordan Strachan – Fifth Year (6'5, 245) 8 Gilber Edmond – sophomore (6'5, 250) 10 Tyreek Johnson – junior (6'3, 265) 16 Hot Rod Fitten – junior (6'2, 250) 46 Bryan Thomas Jr. – freshman (6'2, 230)
Linebacker 0 Debo Williams – sophomore (6'1, 237) 15 Donovan Westmorland – freshman (6'1, 228) 19 Brad Johnson – Sixth Year (6'2, 238) 22 Bam Martin-Scott – junior (6'2, 235) 32 Mohamed Kaba – junior (6'2, 239) 35 Akhnaton Shabazz – freshman (6'0, 225) 40 Ronnie Porter – freshman (6'1, 238) 41 Andrew Colasurdo – freshman (6'1, 240) 42 Darryle Ware – sophomore (6'1, 228) 44 Sherrod Greene – Sixth Year (6'1, 233) 45 Colin Bryant – freshman (6'3, 225) 52 Stone Blanton – freshman (6'2, 235)
Defensive back 1 R.J. Roderick – Fifth Year (6'0, 207) 3 Devonni Reed – graduate (5'11, 200) 9 Cam Smith – junior (6'0, 188) 11 Emory Floyd Jr. – freshman (6'1, 185) 12 Anthony Rose – freshman (6'1, 190) 14 Joey Hunter – sophomore (6'1, 200) 18 Keenan Nelson Jr. – freshman (6'1, 200) 20 Tyrese Ross – senior (6'0, 200) 21 Nick Emmanwori – freshman (6'4, 218) 23 Isaiah Norris – junior (5'11, 185) 24 Marcellas Dial – junior (6'0, 192) 25 O'Donnell Fortune – freshman (6'1, 180) 26 Landon Grier – sophomore (5'9, 185) 27 DQ Smith – freshman (6'1, 212) 28 Darius Rush – senior (6'2, 200) 29 David Spaulding – junior (6'1, 197) 31 Peyton Williams – freshman (6'0, 200) 34 Cam Hardy – freshman (6'1, 193) 36 B.J. Gipson – junior (6'4, 215) 43 Joseph Byrnes – freshman (6'0, 195) 47 King-Demenian Ford – freshman (6'2, 207) 48 Noah Abrams – freshman (5'10, 187)
Long snappers 34 Matthew Bailey – junior (6'2, 215) 36 Hunter Rogers – sophomore (6'1, 205) 46 Cole Rasmussen – sophomore (5'11, 210) : 2022 South Carolina Gamecocks Football Roster 08/09/22
Coaching staff NamePositionConsecutive season Shane Beamer Head coach 2nd Marcus Satterfield Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach 2nd Clayton White Defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach 2nd Pete Lembo Associate head coach/special teams coordinator 2nd Torrian Gray Defensive backs coach 2nd Montario Hardesty Running backs coach 2nd Greg Adkins Offensive line coach 2nd Justin Stepp Wide receivers coach 2nd Jody Wright Tight ends coach 1st Sterling Lucas Outside linebackers coach 1st Jimmy Lindsey Defensive line coach 2nd Freddie Kitchens Analyst 1st
Rankings
Statistics and highlights The University of South Carolina and others have published many highlights from the Gamecocks' 2022 football season.
The 8–5 overall record and 4–4 SEC record were both one-game improvements over the 2021 season Predicted by the media to finish 5th in the SEC East, but finished 3rd Only the fifteenth season of 8+ wins in school history, and first since 2017 Ranked 23rd in the country in both the final Associated Press and USA Today Coaches’ polls Only the tenth season to finish ranked in the AP poll in school history, and first since 2013 First wins over back-to-back top-10 teams in school history Only the seventh time in history a school has defeated top-10 opponents in consecutive weeks as an unranked team, and first since 2003 Only the sixth season in school history to beat three ranked teams, and first since 2013 First season in school history to beat three top-15 teams Beat Texas A&M for the first time in nine tries Won at Kentucky for the first time since 2012 Defeated Clemson for the first time since 2013 Won three true road games for the first time since 2013 Had a four-game winning streak for the first time since 2013 Defeated top-5 opponent at home for the first time since 2012 Yards of offense and points against Tennessee were both the most by an unranked team against an AP top-5 opponent in the poll era Selected as the FWAA's National Team of the Week after the win against Tennessee, winning the honor for only the fifth time since 2002 Snapped Clemson's 40-game home winning streak The Gator Bowl was the highest rated non-New Year’s Six bowl game of the season The Tennessee game and Gator Bowl were the fifth-highest and sixth-highest rated Gamecock football games of the last ten seasons Sold out all six Saturday home games Averaged 75,785 in attendance for seven home contests, which ranked 16th in the country Entered the AP Poll rankings for the first time since 2018, and entered the College Football Playoff rankings for the first time since 2017 Reached highest ranking in AP Poll since 2014 Reached highest College Football Playoff ranking in program history Won four of their five non-conference games, improving their record to 40–13 in their last 53 non-conference games Used 42 different starters, including 20 on offense and 22 on defense Averaged 32.2 points per game, which ranked 39th in the country and was nearly a 10-points per game increase over the 2021 campaign, when they averaged 22.6 points per game Scored 30+ points in nine games for the first time in school history Ranked 27th in the country in pass efficiency defense and 34th in passing defense Forced 23 turnovers, which ranked second in the SEC and 20th in the country Made fifteen interceptions, which ranked first in the SEC and 14th in the nation Had the nation’s top-ranked special teams unit, earning the No. 1 spot in ESPN’s special teams efficiency ranking