Gamecocks No. 7 in Collegiate Baseball Preseason Poll

The Collegiate Baseball preseason top 40, which was released Thursday, has the South Carolina Gamecocks ranked at No. 7.

The Gamecocks return six position starters, 13 pitchers and 25 letterwinners from last year’s national runner-up squad. Among the returning players is senior pitcher Tyler Webb, who garnered second-team preseason All-America honors earlier in the month from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

The top five, in order, consists of Arkansas, North Carolina, Vanderbilt, LSU and UCLA.

This ranking seems about right for the USC squad to start the year with a few less familiar faces and the loss of their head coach. In saying that, this team is well-rounded and don't be surprised, nor doubt, when they make a late season run at a return to the CWS.