Clemson Football: 5 best offenses the Tigers will face in 2017

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COLUMBIA, SC - NOVEMBER 05: Jake Bentley reacts after a play against the Missouri Tigers during their game at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 5, 2016 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Tyler Lecka/Getty Images) /

4. South Carolina

I realize that the Tigers held the Gamecocks to seven points a season ago. However, that was an indictment of how talented Clemson was on defense a season ago. Let’s not forget that the Tigers also held an Urban Meyer led Ohio State team to a whopping zero points. Clemson was simply loaded on defense a season ago.

The Tigers could very well hold South Carolina to seven points again in 2017, however, that doesn’t change the fact that this Gamecocks offense will be much improved this season. It all starts with sophomore quarterback, Jake Bentley.

Bentley was impressive during the ladder half of South Carolina’s schedule, completing 65.8 percent of his passes for 1,420 yards and nine touchdowns. If it wasn’t for the Gamecock’s inability to protect Bentley, he would have thrown for many more touchdowns a season ago.

The Gamecocks have viable weapons in Deebo Samuel and Rico Dowdle and Bryan Edwards. Being as though both Dowdle and Edwards were freshman and Samuel just a sophomore in 2016, I expect them to improve significantly coming into 2017. There is nothing comparable to in-game reps.

Should the Gamecocks keep Bentley off of the ground, he will terrorize opposing defenses in 2017.

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