The Gamecocks' depth chart for the UNC game features some mild surprises

Earlier this week, South Carolina released it's first official depth chart of the 2013 season. Click here to watch Steve Spurrier's Sunday press conference, in which he fields questions about, among other things, some of the more surprising elements of this two-deep.

Offensive Depth Chart

Who is going to catch the football?

With Bruce Ellington (hamstring) listed as a backup and Busta Anderson (hamstring) not even listed on the two-deep, South Carolina's starters will have contributed to just 17% of last year's total catches. If Ellington's hamstring isn't ready to go by 6 PM tomorrow night, Damiere Byrd's 14 catches in 2012 will be the most of any Gamecock receiver on the field. USC has a proven backup at tight end in Jerrell Adams, who probably even has a higher ultimate ceiling than Anderson, but Bruce Ellington's presence in this WR corps is vital. The Gamecocks can still win even if Bruce isn't available, but it will put that much more pressure on a young group that is long on upside but short on results.

Oh hi there, Pharoh Cooper

When Pharoh Cooper was being recruited as a multi-position prospect out of Havelock, NC, the buzz was that he'd have a chance to come in early and make an impact as a punt returner, but I don't think anyone thought that Pharoh would be entering the North Carolina game just one play away from lining up as the starting slot receiver for the Gamecocks, especially after he opened fall camp working with the safeties. But apparently Steve Spurrier so much liked what he saw out of Pharoh's reps in the punt return game that he petitioned for Cooper's transition to the offensive side of the ball. What the Head Ball Coach wants, the Head Ball Coach gets, and Cooper says that he'd rather be playing receiver anyway.

Hey, what's with all of the true freshman offensive linemen?

If you press people like Steve Spurrier and Nick Saban about who's listed second on a depth chart, it becomes clear pretty quickly that depth charts are a media-driven construct that coaches would just as soon not deal with whatsoever. But it's hard not to notice that Bryce King, D.J. Park, Alan Knott, and J.P. Vonashek - all true freshmen - are listed as backups on the pre-UNC edition of the depth chart. The ability to redshirt true freshman offensive linemen is instrumental for cultivating quality, SEC-caliber depth, so seeing four true freshmen listed on the two deep is bound to raise some eyebrows.

Naturally, the plan is for the starting five to go the distance, but, once the game starts, injury and/or poor performance could force Shawn Elliott's hand to burn a redshirt or two. But, considering that the offensive line is perhaps this team's most veteran unit, this shouldn't be too much of a concern.

Defensive Depth Chart

Young linebackers are still young

The only real surprise in the linebacking corps is that once-projected WLB starter Cedrick Cooper is not even listed as a reserve. Cooper's hyperextended elbow has kept him out much longer than the 10 days to 2 weeks that he was initially expected to miss. Among the true freshmen in the mix, Skai Moore stands the best chance to see the field in 2013. Linebackers coach Kirk Botkin has praised Moore throughout fall camp for his ability to pick up the complexities of the Gamecocks' defense at a much faster rate than most true freshmen.

Wait, I thought Jamari Smith was a running back

Not unlike Pharoh Cooper, Jamari Smith switched positions in the middle of fall camp, and it comes as something of a surprise to see him passing over Rico McWilliams as the backup to Jimmy Legree.

Special Teams Depht Chart

A true freshman, walk-on kicker, huh?

Steve Spurrier is known for many things. One of those things is his aversion to kicking field goals, which should only be intensified by the fact that he will have true freshman Elliott Fry attempting field goals and PATs on Thursday night. Fry's emergence comes as a surprise to most of us at Garnet And Black Attack, as evidenced by how heavily we threw our editorial weight behind Landon Ard. Despite Spurrier's apparent confidence in the youngster Fry, Gamecock fans figure to be more nervous than usual should the season opener end up being decided by a last-minute field goal.

What happend to Coleman Harley?

Well, I guess we're 0/2 when it comes to taking chances on kicking game specialists.

More from Garnet And Black Attack:

• Opening Games In The Spurrier Era
• UNC Tar Heels at South Carolina Gamecocks: Three Keys and Prediction
• By the Numbers: North Carolina
• Justin King publishes 2013 Gamecock football preview video
• Crossing Enemy Lines: Blogger Q&A with Brian Barbour of Tar Heel Blog