PFF bullish on Gamecocks in way-too-early Top 25 for 2022. Here’s where USC ranks
There’s more belief in South Carolina from national pundits heading into the 2022 football season. One analyst is putting the Gamecocks as a top contender.
Pro Football Focus analyst Anthony Treash placed South Carolina at No. 15 in PFF’s “way-too-early” Top 25 Monday, ranking the Gamecocks in the upper half of the SEC.
Treash told The State via Twitter on Tuesday the primary reason behind USC’s ranking was the addition of former Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler. Rattler, a former five-star prospect who generated Heisman Trophy buzz after his freshman campaign with the Sooners, lost his starting role in Norman last year to freshman quarterback Caleb Williams and opted to transfer.
“I still think (Rattler) is one of the best quarterbacks in college football despite wide belief, and PFF’s data reflects that,” Treash wrote. “Rattler is actually PFF’s highest-graded active Power Five quarterback since 2020. The deep passing numbers last year weren’t up to his 2020 form before the benching, but he did lead all Power Five quarterbacks in negatively graded throw rate and completion percentage over expectation (CPOE) for 2021.
“Rattler’s arm talent is in rare territory, giving him one of the highest ceilings in the country. And when you have a quarterback of that caliber, it can be game-changing.”
South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer utilized the NCAA transfer portal to bolster South Carolina’s offense for this season, also adding former Wake Forest running back Christian Beal-Smith, former James Madison receiver Antwane “Juice” Wells and tight end Austin Stogner, Rattler’s teammate from Oklahoma, out of the portal.
Treash wrote the addition of Wells, Stogner and wide receiver Corey Rucker should also have “positive ramifications on the offense” heading into next season.
PFF’s early 2022 rankings list USC as the fifth-best SEC team behind No. 1 Alabama, No. 3 Georgia, No. 6 Texas A&M and No. 12 Arkansas. In-state rival Clemson was placed at No. 4 in the rankings. The Gamecocks are scheduled to play all of these teams in the 2022 regular season except Alabama.
ESPN in January placed the Gamecocks at No. 25 in its version of the way-too-early Top 25.
The Gamecocks went 7-6 with a win over North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl last year, which was Beamer’s first season at the helm. They had been predicted to win three or four games in 2021, but made it to the bowl eligibility benchmark with the help of conference victories over Florida and Auburn at home.
USC fans were able to catch a first glimpse of the Gamecocks’ new offensive weapons in Saturday’s Garnet and Black spring football game. Rattler went 8 of 10 for 79 yards, Beal-Smith brought five carries for 18 yards and a touchdown and Wells finished with 31 yards on three receptions. Stogner isn’t on South Carolina’s campus yet as he finishes coursework at Oklahoma.
South Carolina’s 2022 season kicks off Sept. 3 with a matchup against Georgia State at Williams-Brice Stadium.
South Carolina 2022 football schedule
Sept. 3: vs. Georgia State
Sept. 10: at Arkansas
Sept. 17: vs. Georgia
Sept. 24: vs. Charlotte
Oct. 1: vs. South Carolina State
Oct. 8: at Kentucky
Oct. 22: vs. Texas A&M
Oct. 29: vs. Missouri
Nov. 5: at Vanderbilt
Nov. 12: at Florida
Nov. 19: vs. Tennessee
Nov. 26: at Clemson
This story was originally published April 19, 2022 at 11:56 AM with the headline "PFF bullish on Gamecocks in way-too-early Top 25 for 2022. Here’s where USC ranks."
