The insertion of Jake Bentley as South Carolina’s starting quarterback kick-started a momentum-building final six weeks last season, propelling the Gamecocks to a bowl game and stirring cautious optimism for 2017.
Bentley completed 65.8 percent of his passes (125 of 190) for 1,420 yards with nine touchdowns and four interceptions.
He had his best game against Missouri, leading South Carolina to a 31-21 win by finishing 22 of 28 for 254 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Gamecocks went 4-2 down the stretch, including a win against Tennessee, to reach the Birmingham Bowl, where a 46-39 loss against South Florida awaited.