By William Qualkinbush.

By William Qualkinbush.

For some Clemson fans, no season accomplishment matters if it is not topped with a win over South Carolina. Those fans largely see the past five seasons as incomplete or disappointing in spite of the obvious strides Tiger football has made over that time period.

Dabo Swinney has done almost everything a football coach at Clemson can do over the past half-decade except beat the Gamecocks. It stands to reason the task will be tougher because virtually every scholarship player returns for Steve Spurrier’s team this season. Although the vast majority of contributors come back, several key components of last season’s 11-2 squad that bested the Tigers 31-17.

Perhaps the most notable absence will be at quarterback. Connor Shaw is gone after one of the most efficient, mistake-free seasons in college football history. He threw only one interception in 284 pass attempts, two fewer than his replacement—Dylan Thompson—threw in just 89 attempts. Thompson has proven capable, leading the Gamecocks to a road win over Clemson in 2011, but he struggled at times against top competition last season when thrust into duty. His development should be aided by a push from athletic Connor Mitch, who may take some snaps as the season progresses.

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Mike Davis returns to lead the Gamecock running game. His presence should give Thompson some added security since Davis, when healthy, is capable of being an impact workhorse back. Last season, the junior rushed for 1,183 yards and 11 touchdowns in spite of an injury that slowed him down in the final handful of contests. Among returners, Davis is also the top pass-catcher, so his versatility should make the offense go. Davis is a legitimate All-American when he can stay on the field. If injury strikes, Shon Carson and Brandon Wilds can give the Gamecocks something serviceable.

One of the strongest offensive lines in the country resides in Columbia. Seniors Corey Robinson and A.J. Cann anchor the left side, while junior Brandon Shell is entrenched at right tackle. Either Clayton Stadnik or Cody Waldrop can capably handle the duties at center, and the depth all over the line is among the best in the country. This group should pave the way for a productive year on offense.

Losing Bruce Ellington will be tough, but there are plenty of playmakers on the outside for the Gamecocks at receiver. Damiere Byrd and Shaq Roland will team up to form a dynamic one-two punch. Nick Jones has a wealth of experience at wideout, too, and Rory Anderson and Jerell Adams can both play tight end at a high level. The wild card is Pharoh Cooper, who can line up in a number of places—including wildcat quarterback.

Perhaps the most depleted position group on the team is defensive line. Mainstays Jadeveon Clowney, Kelcy Quarles, and Chaz Sutton have departed, leaving a crew of talented starters and untested reserves behind. Those three combined for 15.5 of the team’s 25 sacks from 2013. Senior J.T. Surratt is the leader of the returning group, which features a ton of players that largely sat and learned behind some phenomenal linemen last season.

Truthfully, South Carolina did not have a defensive leader last season. No player had more than 56 tackles to his credit, but there were 13 players whose tackle totals fell between 30 and 56. The balanced output was led by linebacker Skai Moore, who is looking for further improvement after a dynamite freshman campaign. Junior Kaiwan Lewis, whose 54 tackles were third-best on the squad, will man the other true linebacker spot.

Cornerback is sure to be a weak spot after the departures of Victor Hampton and Jimmy Legree. Brison Williams may move over from safety to play one corner this season, although one of several highly regarded youngsters could earn either gig. There will be a role for senior Kadetrix Marcus somewhere in the defensive backfield. The exact location could be predicated on the fall performances of Chaz Elder and T.J. Gurley at the safety positions.

Placekicker Eliott Fry made 15 of his 18 field goal attempts last season and is considered one of the top returning specialists in the country. The same is not true of returning starter Tyler Hull at punter. Hull struggled last season, failing to average 38 yards per kick. In an offense expected to be less productive to some degree this season, field position could be critical. This means Hull needs to improve dramatically.

The Gamecocks have some holes to fill, but the total program is still healthy and strong. The crew that travels to Death Valley in November will look similar in many ways, but the way the leadership structure develops over the course of the year could change the dynamic of the season-ending rivalry game.