ESPN College Football

ESPN Insider's "20 teams that can win it all" series is previewing each of the top 20 teams in Brian Fremeau's five-year program metric (for a full explanation, and links to all of the previews as they are published, click here), with the help of ESPN's Stats & Information group.

On Wednesday, ESPN's Travis Haney took a look at South Carolina. Haney discussed three reasons why South Carolina can win it all and three reasons why the Gamecocks won't.

Here's a little of what Haney said about the Gamecocks' chances of winning it all this year:

"Spurrier has a quarterback at South Carolina. There are no question marks, with respects to performance -- or off-field behavior -- any longer. Connor Shaw became a long-awaited answer last season, taking over for the much-maligned Stephen Garcia.

The Gamecocks went 7-1 with Shaw at quarterback, losing only at then-No. 7 Arkansas. It's difficult to argue with those results."

My thoughts: Shaw's development is big for South Carolina's offense. There's no doubt that Shaw can make plays with his feet, but Spurrier wants a passer. He was a passer and his quarterbacks at Florida were passers. Shaw showed more of a pass-first mentality during the second half of the season and it sounds like it carried over into the spring. Now, he'll have to continue that this fall. Old habits do die hard, but what would really help him is if Marcus Lattimore is healthy.

Speaking of Lattimore, Haney threw out some pretty interesting facts about Lattimore's running habits when he was healthy. One that I was really impressed with was: "Lattimore was not touched until he was five yards past the line of scrimmage on 94 of his 412 rushes (22.8 percent) in his first two seasons (according to ESPN Stats & Info). Seventy-two of those runs were between the tackles." He also added that it continues to sound like Lattimore is ahead of schedule.

My thoughts: A healthy Lattimore would certainly add some confidence to the thought of saying South Carolina is an SEC title contender and beyond. When he's on top of his game he's one of the best running backs in the country. But no one really knows how he'll respond this season and how healthy he'll actually be. We won't really know until he takes real contact in a real game. Until we know where Lattimore's health stands there will still be speculation surrounding this offense.

Haney also talks about the defensive line, which I think will be very good this fall. Ends Jadeveon Clowney and Devin Taylor should be pretty annoying to guard and tackles Kelcy Quarles and Byron Jerideau showed a lot of improvement this spring. This line will be pretty darn good this fall, which should help the entire defense.

As for three reasons why the Gamecocks falter, Haney talks the lack of proven receivers, the loss of defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson and having to play LSU and Arkansas.

My thoughts: I agree with all three and I still feel most of the concern is in the secondary. Starting corners Stephon Gilmore and C.C. Whitlock are gone and DeVonte Holloman is moving back to the Spur, leaving an opening at strong safety. That leaves three spots that need to be filled. Two will be filled by rising sophomores, while veteran Akeem Auguste will take a corner spot. The problem is that he hasn't played since 2010 and hasn't played corner since 2009.

Fremeau's projection:

Most likely result: 8-4 (30 percent likelihood)
Projection window: 7-5 to 10-2 (86 percent likelihood)

All but Texas A&M in the SEC will be finished with spring practice after this coming weekend.

Who are those players who've blossomed this spring?

We've pinpointed 10 players who weren't stars last season, and in some cases, didn't even start, but players who've shown that they're poised to have big seasons in 2012.

Here's what we came up with:

Mike Gillislee, RB, Florida: Entering his senior season, Gillislee made a big push to be the Gators' starting running back in the fall. The coaches love how hard he worked and his willingness to become a more complete back. He improved his pass-blocking, which was one of the things keeping him off the field in the past.

Adrian Hubbard, LB, Alabama: The Crimson Tide feel like they've found somebody to replace Courtney Upshaw as a finisher off the edge on passing downs. The 6-6 Hubbard is now pushing 250 pounds entering his sophomore season and is an excellent fit at Jack linebacker. He had three sacks in Alabama's spring game.

Byron Jerideau, DT, South Carolina: The former junior college transfer ran into trouble off the field earlier this year, but bounced back with an impressive spring. The 6-3, 316-pound senior is the strongest player on the team and has squatted 670 pounds. He's just another reason this South Carolina defensive line should be something to see in 2012.

Malcolm Johnson, TE, Mississippi State: As a freshman last season, Johnson caught 11 passes, but three of those were for touchdowns. Judging by way the he's played this spring, the 6-2, 230-pound sophomore has a chance to be one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the league in 2012.

Bennie Logan, DT, LSU: Overshadowed by Michael Brockers in the middle of that LSU defensive line last season, Logan was one of the more underrated players in the SEC. In fact, LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis thinks the 6-3, 290-pound junior is right there in that same class as Brockers.

Marcus Lucas, WR, Missouri: Fans in the Show Me State got just a little taste of how good Lucas can be last season. He started in three games, but caught five touchdown passes. Look for the 6-5, 215-pound junior to emerge in 2012 as one of the SEC's top big-play threats.

Antonio Richardson, OT, Tennessee: After seeing spot duty as a freshman, Richardson has been good enough this spring that senior Dallas Thomas has moved inside to guard and Richardson has stepped in as the starter at left tackle. The Vols weren't physical enough up front last season, but the 6-6, 329-pound Richardson should help change that.

Marquel Wade, WR, Arkansas: As a freshman last season, Wade took a kickoff return back for a touchdown. He's showcased that same explosiveness at receiver this spring and is one of the reasons the Hogs aren't panicking about the loss of Jarius Wright, Joe Adams and Greg Childs.

Jermaine Whitehead, CB, Auburn: He came in and played as a true freshman a year ago and immediately demonstrated that he wasn't afraid to mix it up. This spring, Whitehead also demonstrated his versatility. He's somebody who could end up playing cornerback, safety or nickel in Brian VanGorder's system.

Trey Wilson, CB, Vanderbilt: The Commodores just seem to breed outstanding defensive backs, and Wilson is the next in line. The 5-11, 192-pound senior will take over for Casey Hayward as Vanderbilt's shutdown corner and has the talent, smarts and experience to be an All-SEC player in 2012.

A Friday stroll around the SEC:

• Archie Manning makes a plea to Ole Miss fans: We need to unite.
• Georgia expects offensive guard Kolton Houston to have his eligibility restored.
• Back from suspension, South Carolina's Byron Jerideau is working his way back into the starting lineup at defensive tackle.
• LSU's draft prospects show their stuff at pro day.
• Florida defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is banking on his defense to create more turnovers in 2012.
• Florida running back Mack Brown is getting good reviews this spring.
• Auburn is hoping its receivers can stay healthy next season.
• Some notes from Auburn's first day of spring practice.
• Bill Parcells and Lou Holtz are speaking at Nick Saban's annual coaching clinic.
• Running back Johnny Jefferson decommits from Texas A&M after taking visits to Baylor and TCU.
• Sophomore Lucas Vincent should bolster Missouri's thin defensive line.

The tournament is kicking back up today, but enjoy these links before you go ripping what's left of your bracket up.

• Vanderbilt defensive end Tim Fugger has played his way onto the NFL's radar.
• Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley might have dislocated his hip in the national championship game, but he didn't dislocate his sense of humor.
• Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin wants to get in-state recruits.
• Las Vegas says Arkansas is a legitimate national championship contender in 2012.
• Georgia's Malcolm Mitchell is getting defensive in practice.
• Defensive tackle Byron Jerideau is working his way back into South Carolina's starting lineup.
• New Florida offensive coordinator Brent Pease has been impressed with wide receiver Quinton Dunbar so far.
• New Ole Miss athletic director Ross Bjork is a rising star in college athletics, but inherits a job filled with potential issues.
• Mississippi State will air it out more with Tyler Russell taking over at quarterback.
• Defensive tackle Lucas Vincent will bolster a thin Missouri defensive line.
• Kentucky quarterback Maxwell Smith is finding out how much he still has to learn this spring.

Devin Taylor is noticing all the attention surrounding South Carolina’s program, and he likes it.

It means people are expecting big things from the Gamecocks, and some might even be a little fearful of them.

“It’s almost like a target on our backs,” South Carolina’s senior defensive end said.

But that target didn’t just appear in Columbia, S.C. It started to form after South Carolina’s first trip to the SEC championship game in 2010, and Taylor said he could sense it every week last season. He could tell that the perception of South Carolina’s team had changed around the league and more respect was thrown the Gamecocks’ way.

“You could just feel it,” he said.

It’s not hard to believe that the team that once struggled to make upward moves in the SEC's Eastern Division is now linked to divisional favorite talk. In coach Steve Spurrier’s seven seasons at South Carolina, he has compiled 55 wins (leaving him nine away from tying Rex Enright’s school record for career wins), took South Carolina to Atlanta, and led the Gamecocks to their first 11-win season in 2011.

The next step? An SEC championship.

It’s a goal that Spurrier said he expects, and so do his players. Taylor said winning the East is no longer the No. 1 goal. They want to be showered with celebratory confetti inside the Georgia Dome in December.

And South Carolina has the parts in place to make such a run. The offense loses star receiver Alshon Jeffery and returns a cluster of unproven receivers, but the plus is that there is a ton of depth there. Also, much-ballyhooed incoming freshman WR Shaq Roland will be in town this summer, and a lot is expected of him.

On the offensive line, Rokevious Watkins and Terrence Campbell are gone (both were seniors in 2011). But South Carolina returns three starters, and the coaches expect redshirt freshman Brandon Shell to step right in at left tackle for Watkins. Get him going and South Carolina’s line should be fine.

Quarterback Connor Shaw returns after really starting to come into his own as more of a passer at the end of last season. He’ll always run the ball, but he showed he can be disciplined and lead with his arm.

Running back Marcus Lattimore (knee) won’t practice in the spring, but he certainly hasn’t been ruled out for the regular season. A healthy Lattimore, who has racked up 2,015 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns in 20 career games, is an obvious Heisman Trophy candidate.

Defensively, Taylor can’t help but get excited. While South Carolina enters spring camp down in numbers in the secondary -- especially with injuries to Akeem Auguste and D.J. Swearinger -- Taylor said he’s seen younger players (such as cornerback Victor Hampton) make improvements during offseason workouts. And Taylor has really been impressed with DeVonte Holloman, who is transitioning back to the spur position from safety.

When it comes to the front seven, Taylor knows the key names are Jadeveon Clowney -- who was seventh in the SEC in sacks (eight) and 11th in tackles for loss (12) -- along with Kelcy Quarles, Shaq Wilson and Reginald Bowens. But you can’t sleep on defensive tackle Byron Jerideau or linebacker Damario Jeffery, who moves to middle linebacker from the spur.

Taylor said South Carolina isn’t rebuilding on defense, it’s reloading, which is a scary thought. South Carolina was third nationally in total defense in 2011, and Taylor thinks the Gamecocks are equipped with just as much talent to have a similar year in 2012.

Even with the skill that returns on both sides for South Carolina, Taylor still expects the Gamecocks to be overlooked at times -- maybe not by opposing teams, but by those on the periphery.

And he’s fine with that.

“We can do the underdog thing and then come back and bite them in the butt,” he said.

Taylor hopes that “underdog thing” will take South Carolina to the top of the SEC in 2012. From where this program has been to where it is now, a win in Atlanta in early December would show just how big a turnover the Gamecocks have made, Taylor said.

“That would mean a lot, and it would let this entire program shine [and show] how much it’s grown and how much it’s willing to grow for future players coming here,” he said.

“I’ve worked hard over all these summers, and all this work actually paid off to do something great.”

South Carolina is down a man in its secondary.

Coach Steve Spurrier announced over the weekend that freshman safety Brison Williams has been suspended indefinitely from the football team for "conduct detrimental to the South Carolina football team."

Williams played in eight games for the Gamecocks in 2011, recording 11 tackles. His lone start of the season came against Florida when he stepped in for DeVonte Holloman, who was out with a concussion.

Williams originally signed with South Carolina in 2010, but attended Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy in the fall. He returned to South Carolina last spring, but later broke his arm during preseason practice. He missed the first four games of the season and made his season debut against Auburn on Oct. 1.

Williams is the second South Carolina player to be suspended from the team this offseason. Defensive tackle Byron Jerideau was also suspended after being arrested earlier this month. The junior reserve was arrested and charged with public disorderly conduct and traffic/pedestrian on a controlled access highway (jaywalking). According to a police report, Jerideau was arrested after leaving a bar in Columbia, S.C., and using profane language at oncoming traffic while crossing the street without using a crosswalk. The report also said that Jerideau was nearly hit by a vehicle, and he almost caused an accident.

Per South Carolina policy, Williams' arrest means an automatic suspension from the team.

Jerideau played in all 13 games this season, backing up Travian Robertson inside. He finished the season with seven tackles and 1.5 sacks.