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South Carolina Aims for Strong Start Against Old Dominion in Season Opener
South Carolina is ready to kick off the 2024 season with a bang as they host Old Dominion on Saturday in Columbia, S.C. After a disappointing 5-7 season in 2023, the Gamecocks are eager to bounce back and set a positive tone for the year under head coach Shane Beamer, who is determined to avoid a repeat of last season’s struggles.
The wait is almost over. pic.twitter.com/jrwU9YHUxb
— Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) August 31, 2024
South Carolina’s New Quarterback and Defensive Depth
The Gamecocks are putting their faith in redshirt freshman quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who will be making his first career start. Sellers, known for his calm and collected demeanor, is expected to bring a steady presence to the offense, even as he faces the pressure of his debut.
“No matter what their demeanor is, it’s still going to be a lot on Saturday,” Beamer said. “With LaNorris’ demeanor, he gives you a quiet confidence.”
South Carolina returns 14 starters, with a strong emphasis on defense—eight of those starters are on the defensive side of the ball. Beamer has highlighted the importance of depth and rotation, especially with the high temperatures expected on game day.
“It’s going to be hot Saturday, so play our players,” Beamer said. “We’re going to play a lot of defensive linemen.”
Old Dominion’s Challenges and Key Players
Old Dominion is facing a significant challenge this season, with 57 new players on their roster. Communication will be key for the Monarchs as they prepare for the intense atmosphere at Williams-Brice Stadium. To get ready, they’ve been practicing with pumped-up crowd noise to simulate the raucous environment they’ll encounter.
“We know it’s going to be loud down there,” Old Dominion head coach Ricky Rahne said. “They have such great fans down there.”
Avoiding big plays and improving tackling have been major focuses for the Monarchs during the offseason.
“You never feel like you’ve tackled enough, but I feel like we’ve done a pretty good job with that,” Rahne said.
On defense, Old Dominion will lean on linebacker Jason Henderson, who led the nation in tackles per game for the past two seasons, averaging 14.2 tackles per game last year. On offense, quarterback Grant Wilson will be making his second straight season-opening start, hoping to lead the team in a tough SEC environment.
Game Outlook
This game marks the first-ever meeting between South Carolina and Old Dominion. While the Gamecocks are focused on leveraging their defensive depth and breaking in a new quarterback, the Monarchs will be aiming to overcome their inexperience and rise to the challenge of playing in a hostile SEC environment. With South Carolina’s strategy of rotating players to combat the heat and their home-field advantage, they’ll be looking to start the season on the right foot and build momentum for the games ahead.
