By Matt Osborne
SouthernPigskin.com

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Just two years after the departure of Connor Shaw, South Carolina could very well be turning to another Connor under center in 2015.

There was a time, not all that along ago, when a 7-6 season would have been considered a solid season at the University of South Carolina, a school not known for a longstanding tradition of producing a consistent winner on the gridiron.

That time has since long passed, however, with the arrival of legendary head coach Steve Spurrier.

After six straight seasons without a losing record to begin his tenure in Columbia, Spurrier helped guide the Gamecocks to three consecutive eleven-win seasons from 2011-2013. That three-year run of excellence culminated with South Carolina finishing with a program-record No. 4 national ranking in the final polls.

Coming off of an extended run of tremendous success, the Gamecocks entered the 2014 campaign once again ranked inside the top ten nationally, while also being tabbed as the early front-runner to win the SEC East.

Those lofty expectations would ultimately never be met, as South Carolina would need a three-point win over Miami in the Duck Commander Independence Bowl simply to avoid the programs first losing season since Lou Holtz was head coach in 2003.

Now hoping to recover from a disappointing 2014 campaign, the team turns its attention to 2015; a season which it hopes will bring a return to contention within the division.

In order for the Gamecocks to compete with a growing list of contenders in the East, they will first have to replace a number of key leaders on the offensive side of the football. Running back Mike Davis, who led the team in rushing each of the past two seasons, left school early to enter the upcoming NFL Draft. Meanwhile, starting quarterback Dylan Thompson, who quietly led the SEC in passing yards in 2014, has exhausted his collegiate eligibility.

Finding a replacement for a running back, no matter the caliber of the departing player, is usually not a pressing issue for major college programs given the surplus of talent at the position across the nation. For South Carolina, the trio of Brandon Wilds, David Williams and Shon Carson combined for nearly 1,000 yards rushing from backup positions last fall.

With proven production returning at the running back position in 2015, the attention of South Carolinas offseason turns to finding an effective answer under center.

The unquestioned front-runner in the race to replace Thompson is redshirt sophomore Connor Mitch, who spent 2014 as Thompsons primary backup. But even though he spent last fall as the No. 2 signal caller on South Carolinas depth chart, Mitch attempted just six passes 3 completing two 3 in limited action.

Much like the Gamecocks most recent starting quarterback named Connor, current Cleveland Browns quarterback Connor Shaw, Mitch entered Columbia as one of the programs more highly-touted prospects for his respective recruiting class.

Ranked as a four-star prospect coming out of high school in North Carolina, Mitch enjoyed one of the best prep careers in the history of the Tar Heel State. As a four-year starter at Wakefield High School in Raleigh, Mitch finished his prep career as the states second all-time leading passer, trailing only former Florida national championship-winning quarterback Chris Leak.

After registering over 12,000 passing yards as a high school player, Mitch ultimately turned down offers from the likes of Alabama, Auburn and LSU in order to play his college football for Spurrier.

Now in position to win the starting job for the first time since enrolling in Columbia, Mitch wasted no time in turning his preparations towards winning the right to replace Thompson.

When questioned following South Carolinas bowl game about whether or not his attention was immediately going towards winning the starting job in 2015, Mitch responded, cIts got to, being the backup quarterback. I am going to take this offseason and work as hard as I can to make sure I give myself the best opportunity.d

In order to be the guy under center when the Gamecocks kick off against North Carolina in August, Mitch will first have to hold off a field of competitors. Included in the mix for the starting job alongside Mitch will be Perry Orth, a former walk-on who attempted two passes in 2014, rising redshirt freshman Michael Scarnecchia and incoming freshman Lorenzo Nunez.

Based on his position as Thompsons primary backup last fall, and also due to his prototypical frame and skill set for the position, Mitch has been mentioned by numerous media outlets as the player to beat in the quarterback race.

Even so, he is not letting that presumptuous status affect his offseason training or his mindset heading into spring practice.

cI dont decide that. Thats up to the coaches,d Mitch said, referring to the depth chart. cI am just going to keep working my hardest to make sure I earn that [starting] spot.d

With only four starters set to return on the offensive side of the football in 2015, the Gamecocks will likely need to rely upon the quarterback a little bit more than they have in previous seasons. For Mitch, that means even more scrutiny than customarily accompanies the position.

Mitch has been groomed to be, and has been tabbed as, South Carolinas quarterback of the future for the past couple of seasons.

And given the current circumstances, it is safe to say that the future is now.