South Carolina made a significant step in the right direction in 2021, not only getting back into a regional but hosting one, albeit as a No. 2 seed. For a while last spring, the Gamecocks looked like a legitimate Omaha-caliber club, but they always had some flaws, and opponents learned how to exploit them. Specifically, the lineup was fairly one dimensional, and not particularly athletic.

My overarching impression of the Gamecocks after taking in their scout day this fall was that this lineup will be much more multi-dimensional. The Gamecocks still have one of their top righty thumpers back in veteran outfielder Andrew Eyster (.855 OPS with 11 HR last year), and Braylen Wimmer (.834 OPS, 11 HR, 15 2B) also returns to provide righthanded juice, along with far more speed (he ran a 6.44-second 60-yard dash on scout day). Lanky and athletic...