Muschamp stands in Spurrier’s shadow

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third in a series of previews of the 2016 SEC football teams:

South Carolina
Will Muschamp must like following in the footsteps of coaching legends.
Muschamp took over the Florida program after Urban Myer stepped down and went 28-21 in four seasons as the Gators’ head coach.
Now he is standing in the shadow of another legend after taking over the South Carolina program.
Steve Spurrier led Florida to the 1997 national title and finished with a 122-71-1 record with the Gators.
After a dissapointing stint with the Washington Redskins, Spurrier rebuild the South Carolina program including a 86-49 record – the best ever for a Gamecock head coach.
He abruptly retired last season as the Gamecocks truggled to a 2-4 start.
Time will tell if Muschamp will last at South Carolina, but the start could be a little rough recovering from a 3-9 season in 2015.
South Carolina’s 2016 roster is missing a large portion of the key players from last year’s team, most notably wide receiver Pharoh Cooper, who left early to enter the NFL.
So the big question is who will be the leaders this season?
Senior quarterback Perry Orth has the most experience but in reality, freshman Brandon McIlwain or JakeBentley have to play a big role for South Carolina.
Offensive coordinator Kurt Roper wants to spread the ball out, go fast and throw it around the yard, but he also wants to run the ball effectively and establish the line of scrimmage.
Muschamp has taken over a team without a lot of talent and it could be a rough start with the Gamecocks.
Junior David Williams, who is coming off a season in which he rushed 86 times for 299 yards, is the projected starter at running back.
Sophomore wide receiver Deebo Samuel will take over the top wide receiver job with freshman Bryan Edwards across from him.
In the slot, Junior Jamari Smith will be the main man after changing his position from cornerback in the offseason.
The only returning starting offensive lineman from last season is center Alan Knott.
The defense has to get better led by cornerback jaMarcus King
Linebacker Skai Moore, the team’s leading tackler each of the last three seasons, was slated to be one of the SEC’s top defenders in 2016.
However, Moore was ruled out for the season due to offseason neck surgery.
The unprecedented heights of the Steve Spurrier era with three straight 11-win seasons are part of history.
South Carolina’ fans always expect to always beat Vanderbilt, Kentucky, a down Missouri, a down Mississippi State.
So if that is a guarentee, then are seven wins: Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, East Carolina, Kentucky, UMass, Missouri, Western Carolina
Losses to Texas A&M, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida and Clemson.
If MSU proves to be okay without Dak Prescott, then put South Carolina at 6-6.
Anything less and Muschamp will put himself on the hot seat after just one bad season.