South Carolina Football Preview: Wide Receiver

Wide Receiver


     Lesbi-honest, know one is going to replace Alshon Jeffery. As arguably the best receiver in school history (at least top four or five) Jeffery's production is going to be missed, but that does not mean the Carolina passing attack will stall in 2012.

Ace Sanders
     The second leading receiver on the 2011 squad, Ace Sanders had a break out year last year for the Gamecocks in his sophomore year.  Catching 29 balls for 383 yards and two touchdowns, Sanders was a good compliment to the deep threat of Jeffery and became a key target for the young Connor Shaw.  The 5'8" Sanders was also the main punt returner for the Gamecocks last season, amassing 149 return yards, and he even ran a punt back for a score against East Carolina.  Sanders also had a successful freshman season, making 25 receptions for 316 yards and two scores.
     In 2012, I look for Sanders to be a leader on the offense, being the returning receptions leader.  With the depth that the Cocks have at the receiver position I could see Sanders only recording about the same amount of receptions he had in 2010 and 2011, but expect him to make bigger plays in bigger situations and have a bigger impact in the return game.

D.L. Moore
     Okay, so I'm probably going out on a limb here by saying D.L. Moore will be the second best wide out for the Gamecocks in 2012, but just bare with me for a second.  At 6'5" and 198 pounds, Moore is the largest member of the receiving corps, and, having redshirted his first year on campus, this will be his fifth year on the team making him the veteran of the receivers.  Having only made 32 receptions in 38 games, Moore has never been the most productive receiver for the Gamecocks, but I believe his size and experience will separate him from the pack this year and I can see Shaw targeting number 82 many times a game.

Damiere Byrd
     Again, a lot of fans would say that I am going out on another limb here by saying that Damiere Byrd will be the third best receiver for the Gamecocks in 2012, but I have my reasoning.  Like Sanders, Byrd is under six feet (5'9", 168 lbs) and extremely fast (considered the fastest player on the team), both of which I think will be major factors this year.  The style of offense that SOS ran last year also means that Byrd could be a factor on reverses and get touches during the running game, utilizing his speed on the edges.

That's all I have on the receivers, mainly because Alshon's gone and I hope we run the ball 75% of the game.  If Moore and Byrd can be pleasant surprises on offense and Sanders can be the go to guy I think that Connor Shaw can end up having an impressive year through the air as I expect lots of passing lanes to open up due to the running threats USC has on offense.  I'll look at the O-Line and Tight Ends later this week, go get them tonight Roth.