ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- During the last few South Carolina State football seasons, defense has often led the way, many times protecting a struggling offense. Could there be a role reversal in 2018? Perhaps, and especially if the Bulldog passing game can come alive.However, for the Bulldogs to be productive in there passing game, lots of improvement will have to take place at both quarterback and in the receiving corps, not as farfetched as it may seem as SC State has depth at quarterback and at the wide receiver position.
Five quarterbacks – three returnees and a pair of talented recruits -- are on the 2018 roster, while the receiver corps numbers 11-12 wide outs, including five veterans, among them the top three pass catchers from the 2017 squad, much to the delight of Head Coach Buddy Pough and first-year offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Bennett Swygert.
"We've had our offensive woes of late, but we think we can turn things around," said Pough during last Friday's MEAC Football Roundup at Norfolk, VA. "We will be tested early during our first two games against FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) teams – Georgia Southern and Central Florida. Also, we've moved some people around and have some new staff on offense."
Quarterbacks
At the quarterback position, Dewann Ford (6-2, 180 r-Jr.) of Stephenson, GA and Tyrece Nick (6-0, 170 So.) of Johnston, SC, emerged from spring drills as the top contenders. Marquanne Goodman (6-1, 200 r-Jr.) is also back.
Ford handled most of the signal calling duties last season, starting nine of 10 games. The Bulldog junior was the fifth-rated quarterback in passing yards in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, completing 147-293 attempts for 1,763 yards and eight touchdowns, while suffering 10 interceptions. He was also the team's third-leading rusher with 93 attempts for 208 yards and two scores.
Nick saw action in four games but started just one contest. He connected on 3-8 attempts for the season but was more effective as a runner with 19 carries for 77 yards, while Goodman sat out the 2017 campaign.
Pough and Swygert expect to see improvement from both Ford and Nick, while Goodman could be in the mix as well.
"Having both Ford and Nick back should be a plus for our team," Pough said recently. "Ford had a good off season and I expect him to be improved this season. Nick played well in the spring and will have a chance to show what he can do. As the quarterback goes, so goes the offense.
Bennett had a chance to observe all of the Bulldog quarterbacks this spring and gives his candid opinion.
"Dewann and Tyrese, the two guys who have been out there on the field, both have the physical ability to be good," said Bennett. "They have the running and throwing ability but may lack some of the intangibles that will make them better operators of the game, something I know they can do.
"I like a quarterback battle and I think we have two guys that will be able 'to drive the bus,' as they say. Ford is definitely on the high end, with good speed and solid throwing ability," continued Bennett. "He has a good release, and with another year of experience under his belt, he should make better decisions, be more vocal and show better leadership.
"As far as Tyrese, we have to remember that he was an 18-year old last season. Most athletes would be red-shirted in that situation but he was thrown in the fire quickly. If he didn't execute as well as the staff had hoped, it was due to his youth, but he has a chance to be better.
"What we will be looking for from our quarterbacks are good decision-making, ball security and the ability to direct sustained drives to protect our defense. Their teammates must believe in them, and, as a staff, we need to get the ten (10) best guys around them."
Among the Bulldogs' 2018 signees are Baptist Hill's Cory Fields (6-0, 188 Fr.) and Quincy Hill (6-2, 175 Fr.) of Spring Valley, two talented quarterbacks who will get a chance to compete for playing time as well, according to Pough and Swygert.
"We signed two quarterbacks and the new NCAA rule – which allows a player to play in at least four games during the season and still maintain his redshirt status – will give us a chance to look at both and they appear to have pretty good ability," said Pough.
"I like both our freshman quarterbacks," echoed Swygert.
Wide Receivers
The Bulldog receiving corps is one of the deepest positions on the 2018 squad and is expected to be a major contributor for the SC State offense.
As a team last season, SC State ranked eighth out of 11 teams in pass offense (179.2 ypg) and was last in pass efficiency (100.6 rating). Also, just one Bulldog receiver – senior Quan Caldwell -- was listed among the top 10 MEAC pass catchers.
That should change this season, according to Pough.
"I think our wide receivers group will be improved," said Pough. "We have some solid veterans and a bunch of young guys that should see a lot of action. I expect us to get more production out of this group this season. Next to our running backs, this is one of our deepest groups, depth-wise."
Pough is right. Twelve wide receivers are listed on the 2018 preseason roster, including the top three pass catchers from last season – Quan Caldwell (5-11, 180 r-Sr.), De'Montrez Burroughs (6-2, 200 Jr.) and Tra'Quan Dubose (5-10, 170 r-Jr.).
Caldwell had 34 catches for 398 yards and three touchdowns; Burroughs, who missed spring drills following off-season surgery, pulled in 30 passes for 427 yards and two scores; while Dubose snared 29 balls for 414 yards. All three are legitimate All-Conference candidates.
Also returning in the receiver's corps are Jermaine Baxley (6-3, 185 r-Sr.), Tyler Schadewald (6-3, 185 Jr.), Orangeburg's Kordel Johnson (6-3, 185 r-So.), and Darius Hammond (5-10, 180 r-So.), all of whom saw playing time and had at least one reception last season, as well as Demarcus Brown (6-2, 195 Jr.) and Darius Hammonds (5-10,180 So.).
Heading a young group of redshirt freshmen and true freshmen are Zack Felder (6-3, 205 r-Fr.) of Orangeburg, Alex Syphrett (6-3, 195 r-Fr.), Rodriques Thomas (6-2, 180 r-Fr.), Will Vareen (5-11, 198 r-Fr.) and Scott Robinson (5-11, 170 Fr.)
Overall, it appears the Bulldogs have a pretty talented group of upperclassmen – Caldwell, Burroughs, Dubose, Baxley, Schadewald and Kordel Johnson -- who played last season and had solid games catching the ball.
Caldwell, a redshirt senior, Burroughs and Dubose are very talented and have outstanding pass-catching ability. They make plays and are receivers that the Bulldogs can count on.
This gives SC State a solid group to start with, noted Pough, and the OC, Coach Swygert. Then come Thomas, Syphrett and Hammonds, giving the team a good nucleus of eight receivers that it can build around. And then there are the younger guys like Felder, a local kid that's 6-3, and Scott Robinson of Rock Hill, who has played in a championship mode.
Thus a receiver corps of 11-12 guys gives Pough's team a solid group to start with, as well as others who can fill in to make the Bulldog offense productive and complement the SC State run game.
With key losses on defense, SC State will have to rely more on its offense in 2018, and having a solid passing game will go a long way toward fielding a strong offense.
The Bulldogs players report to preseason drills Aug. 2. Next up, we will feature the SC State running backs.
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
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