The Feed Pail: South Carolina Gamecocks news and links, #MERICA style

A few links from the weekend to whet your appetite before the main course later on:

P&C: The Charleston paper is continuing its look at the top 10 returning football players for the Gamecocks in 2016. Number seven: D.J. Smith. "Somebody has to step up at the safety position and help pull that light-years-away South Carolina secondary back toward the future. Smith, perhaps underutilized last season by the Gamecocks' former coaching staff, appears the most likely candidate to be handed that task." Before that, David Williams found himself at number 8. Caraviello pretty much echoes what we've said all along: the time is now for Williams to step up.

The State: Redshirt of no redshirt, Will Putnam is ready to work. We'll see what's in store for the redshirt freshman when he gets to campus. After playing tackle at Hickory Ridge High School near Charlotte, Putnam will play in the interior of the o-line. It looks like signs are pointing to him taking a year to bulk up and prepare to see the field in 2017.

TBS: Dozier wants to make Martin "stress free". Rising sophomore P.J. Dozier will be a big part of any success, or lack thereof, the basketball team has in the 2016-2017 season. The offseason's off to a good start; Dozier participated in Stephen Curry's camp out west in California and got some rave reviews from ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla. The local kid's doing and saying the right things, and it's great to see him own up to his weaknesses from last year and vow to get better. Also, from a few days ago ICYMI, a Gamecocks legacy will walk onto the football program this coming season. And Whittle looks at the battle of the trenches being key for the Gamecocks to get some wins in 2016. "One of the biggest areas that strength and conditioning coach Jeff Dillman has needed to address since his arrival to South Carolina is along the point of attack, and he knows how important that group is for a team's success."

Orlando Sentinel: Gamecocks come in at #54 in the Sentinel's annual college football countdown. "For all his failures at (Florida), Muschamp fielded some of the nation's top defenses" but "is sure to endure a rocky first season". Agree/disagree with the full assessment (at the link above)?

Anderson Independent-Mail is ranking Clemson's schedule game-by-game, and the South Carolina rivalry contest is #5.

SEC Country's Brandon Wheeland says that Texas A&M's offense may be his best since Johnny Football. "The depth and high-end talent for 2016 (defensively) should be considered superior. If this year's defense can patrol the field as well or better than the 2012 squad, it will allow the offense to not only stay in games, but have a much wider range of options on how to attack the opposition." Also from SEC Country, SEC things to know for the 2016 season.

Let us know if we missed anything! Comment below or tweet us at @GABAttack. Also feel free to comment with yummy BBQ pics.