Next Year's Top Ten (when has SC even been seen as in cannon shot of the preseason top 10)? Plus ahead of Clemson!

[gamecock stock]

Gamecocks have a hefty amount on defense to replicate from last season’s group. I’d expect it to take a step backwards this year. Replacing a good number of players that were significantly better than the year prior is not going to be easy.

And it remains to be seen whether Dabo made a wise move firing his DC. Clemson ranked 32nd and 49th in the nation in Total Defense the past 2 seasons. Out of 130 teams, that's good defense.

 

[Patriot321]

And it remains to be seen whether Dabo made a wise move firing his DC. Clemson ranked 32nd and 49th in the nation in Total Defense the past 2 seasons. Out of 130 teams, that's good defense.

I don't necessarily agree, since they are in the ACC

 

[Patriot321]

It is nice. But predictions like words are cheap. We need a run like we had from 2010-2013 under Spurrier. The problem back then was that Spurrier was in the 65-69 years of old range. If he had been Beamer's age (47), can you imagine where the program would be today? To have a second consecutive VERY good year in 2025, we MUST finish strong in the Portal. In the first year of the Portal, we finished 3rd in the Portal rankings leading to a nationally-ranked season. The following year had us finish 47th in the Portal rankings leading to a 5-7 season. In the 3rd year of the Portal, we finished 11th in the Portal rankings leading to this seasons VERY good year on the field. Currently, we are 30th in the Portal rankings. Why are we struggling in our Portal recruiting this year? Before anyone says "NIL", guess what? NIL has been around for several years now, including when we finished 3rd and 11th in the Portal rankings. Let's hope Beamer finishes strong in the Portal wars; if not, that prediction won't be worth the paper it's written on, if history is a guide.

Yes, NIL has been around for several years, but doesn't mean that it can't still be blamed. NIL is spiraling out of control, the amount of NIL $ needed to compete at the top is going nowhere but up, I mean, $8 for a two year deal for a DUKE QB. All I'm saying is that NIL = Chaos, and it is getting more chaotic, NIL controls the portal, period, it's all about the $, despite many saying it's about the culture Beamer is building. The fact that it has been around a few years doesn't mean Beamer or most teams/coaches have it under control.

 

[gamecock stock]

I don't necessarily agree, since they are in the ACC

If you have someone already doing a good job in the ACC, you are taking a chance that the next guy won't do as good of a job in the ACC. If his defenses were ranked 80th or worse nationally...... yes, making a change would be a no brainer. In the ACC, his defense was 4th out of 17 teams. THAT is VERY good.

 

[gamecock stock]

Yes, NIL has been around for several years, but doesn't mean that it can't still be blamed. NIL is spiraling out of control, the amount of NIL $ needed to compete at the top is going nowhere but up, I mean, $8 for a two year deal for a DUKE QB. All I'm saying is that NIL = Chaos, and it is getting more chaotic, NIL controls the portal, period, it's all about the $, despite many saying it's about the culture Beamer is building. The fact that it has been around a few years doesn't mean Beamer or most teams/coaches have it under control.

If NIL is a disadvantage and chaotic today, it was also a disadvantage and chaotic last year and 3 years ago when our Transfer Portal classes were ranked high, unlike today. Do we know that our NIL money is not going up? There is no data to say one way or the other. Has NIL ever been under control? No. Hopefully, we will finish strong in our Transfer Portal recruiting.

BTW, we got a commitment this afternoon from RB Rahsul Faison from Utah State who won All Mountain West honors this season. This is how we need to finish. Hopefully, we can keep up that momentum.

 

[FORKCOCK]

If NIL is a disadvantage and chaotic today, it was also a disadvantage and chaotic last year and 3 years ago when our Transfer Portal classes were ranked high, unlike today. Do we know that our NIL money is not going up? There is no data to say one way or the other. Has NIL ever been under control? No. Hopefully, we will finish strong in our Transfer Portal recruiting.

BTW, we got a commitment this afternoon from RB Rahsul Faison from Utah State who won All Mountain West honors this season. This is how we need to finish. Hopefully, we can keep up that momentum.

I watched some film on Rahsul Faison last night. He looks like a very good RB.

 

[Bassslayer]

So an All western mountain RB is going to upgrade a Sec teams running back roster ? 5th college he’s attended.

 

[Robhawk29]

So an All western mountain RB is going to upgrade a Sec teams running back roster ? 5th college he’s attended.

Was in the portal last April but had no takers. Either that or Utah State threw money his way.

 

[gamecock stock]

So an All western mountain RB is going to upgrade a Sec teams running back roster ? 5th college he’s attended.

I don't know. Here is what I do know:
1. In the ranking of Transfer Portal players, he is rated a 4 star; and
2. Our current Transfer Portal class is ranked 22nd; Clemson's is ranked 35th.

 

[Bassslayer]

Gamecocks are a big portal team with the number of transfers every year. The older the team is what programs are doing nowadays. Let somebody else develop and strengthen them.

 

[gamecock stock]

Very surprised at how few transfers we have leaving the program. That says a lot about the winning culture Shane is building.

 

[Bassslayer]

Very surprised at how few transfers we have leaving the program. That says a lot about the winning culture Shane is building.

Says a lot about how much the players are getting paid. That’s the number one reason and it’s not even close. Winning has taken a back seat as has getting a education.