What felt like only yesterday, the South Carolina Gamecocks were a 2-8 football team with Will Muschamp being recently fired.

After the hiring of Shane Beamer and his supporting cast, which includes Clayton White and controversial offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield, the South Carolina Gamecocks were expected to win three and a half games.

However, through four quarterbacks and a variety of different players on both sides of the ball, this makeshift team ended up winning seven ball games, with a finale over the UNC Tarheels in Charlotte, North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

Here’s where it gets interesting… are we going to be good? Argument could be made with an elite QB1 about to take snaps under center.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Spencer Rattler (@spencer_rattler)

Spencer Rattler, Austin Stogner, and Antwane Wells Jr. highlight a masterful job of recruiting in the transfer portal. While Beamer gets the bulk of the credit (fair), we cannot go without praising Coach Stepp.

Stepp helped reel in a record setting talent in Antwane Wells Jr., who was a top transfer target out of the FCS level, James Madison. While at James Madison, Wells was a dominant force and a big time playmaker for the Dukes.

South Carolina is in a weird position though, because as of right now, I can say that our TE room may be a more furious threat in the deep pass game for QB1, Spencer Rattler.

We must hit the portal harder to get at least a few more dudes to add to this receiver room. 

Here’s why you clicked on the article; this is not clickbait. I truly believe there’s a path for Spencer Rattler to win the Heisman Trophy, becoming the second ever winner of the prestigious award in Gamecocks history.

Here’s how it happens:

1. Perception Is Reality

Spencer Rattler MUST have a good public image. The Heisman trophy is now a popularity contest which means if the media hates you, you have no shot to win any type of award.

Spencer must be diligent in what he says and what he does because the media will ridicule every ounce of “cockiness” or whatever.

2. Continue To Add More Weapons

We mention it earlier in this article, Stepp along with Beamer and Satterfield simply must get more weapons on the outside. We are so thin at WR that if one or two guys go down, that’s it.

We have pretty much the same WR room as last year, but Wells and Samson should make an immediate impact.

I believe in our offensive staff, I truly do, but for Rattler to make a run at the Heisman, we got to get him more talent around the ball. Right now, our best weapons outside are a FCS transfer, Josh Vann, and…who? Jaheim Bell must make the change to receiver.

3. Satterfield Shows Why He Was Retained By Beamer

Our play calling was bad last year, like so bad that we as a fanbase wanted Satterfield to be fired after six or seven games. But a win against UNC and the pick-up of key offensive tools in the portal saved Satterfield’s job.

I believe Satterfield will improve tremendously this season and win Assistant Coach of the Year in SEC. We cannot judge him until he has a QB, now he does.

4. Win

YOU HAVE TO COME IN SECOND IN THE EAST, AT MINIMUM. While the prior three points I believe will occur, here is the most challenging: your schedule is hard.

Spencer and the boys must win nine, maybe ten games excluding the bowl game. Lose to Georgia close and Clemson close and you win the remaining ten games, Spencer has a shot. 

Conclusion

What a story it would be, from being benched for a Freshman in Caleb Williams while at Oklahoma to winning the Heisman Trophy. Dude, the story is there, the 30 for 30 is already in production, get it done. 

Odds of Spencer Rattler winning are sitting right around +3000 according to Vegas Insider. Take from this what you may but just having a guy up here is exciting to see as a Gamecock fan. When was the last time we truly had a guy in the running in the pre-season? Marcus Lattimore, maybe? I don’t know but man wouldn’t it be crazy to see us win another Heisman Trophy.