Underclassman to watch in Clemson’s match-up with South Carolina
Rico Dowdle (Fr) HB:
South Carolina has not ran the ball well this season. The Gamecocks currently rank 106th in rushing offense with 140.45 yards per game. Freshman tailback, Rico Dowdle rushes for 97.71 of those yards each game.
In order for South Carolina to have any form of balance offensively, Rico Dowdle must get going early. Clemson has one of the best defensive lines in the country allowing just 129.27 rushing yards per game. South Carolina co-offensive coordinators Kurt Roper and Bryan McClendon must finds way to open up holes for Rico Dowdle.
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South Carolina is inexperienced at most of the skill positions on offense. The outcome of this game is dependent upon the performance of the Gamecocks young playmakers Jake Bentley and Rico Dowdle. Both are equally important to each-others success. If Dowdle runs the football effectively, that will open up the play-action down the field for Bentley. If Bentley can connect down the field, Clemson will not be able to load up the box to stop the run.
In the end, I think Clemson’s experience and talent on defense will be too much for South Carolina’s youngsters to overcome.