![[sc state vs charleston so]: Charleston Southern vs South Carolina State: Quarterback Change and Passing Game Questions](https://trendingissue.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/pexels-1411512.jpg)
Why did Charleston Southern plan to start Jared Echols at quarterback against South Carolina State?
Charleston Southern planned to start Jared Echols at quarterback against South Carolina State after a rough passing performance in its previous game.
The change came after a 12-10 loss to Gardner-Webb, when the Buccaneers finished with only 38 passing yards.
Why the move was planned
The confirmed reason is simple: Charleston Southern was looking for a different direction at quarterback after the offense struggled through the air.
Echols had already appeared in three games, and coach Gabe Giardina said the staff felt good about the move. Giardina also pointed to Echols’ work in practice as part of the reason for the decision.
What Echols brings into the South Carolina State game
Echols was not entering the matchup with a large statistical sample. In three games, he had gone 9-for-19 passing for 121 yards with one interception.
That does not tell the whole story of why the staff chose him, but it gives readers the available baseline before the South Carolina State vs Charleston Southern matchup.
What to watch
The main thing to watch is whether the quarterback change helps Charleston Southern generate more through the passing game. The previous total of 38 passing yards against Gardner-Webb is the clearest reported issue behind the move.
Because starting plans can change before kickoff, readers should check the latest team announcement before the game.
What had Jared Echols done in his three games before facing South Carolina State?
Jared Echols had a limited passing record before Charleston Southern planned to start him against South Carolina State.
The reported numbers from his first three games were modest, but they give a clear snapshot of where he stood entering the matchup.
Jared Echols’ three-game passing line
Through three games, Echols had:
| Category | Reported total |
|---|---|
| Completions-attempts | 9-for-19 |
| Passing yards | 121 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
Those are the confirmed Jared Echols stats available from the report.
How that compares to the team situation
The larger context is Charleston Southern’s passing game. In the Buccaneers’ 12-10 loss to Gardner-Webb, the team totaled 38 passing yards.
That made the quarterback spot a practical focus before the SC State vs Charleston Southern game. Echols’ own numbers do not show a long track record yet, but he had enough practice support for the staff to feel good about the change, according to Gabe Giardina.
What the numbers do and do not say
The stats show his passing volume and production before the start. They do not confirm how much of the offense Charleston Southern planned to put on him, or how the game plan would change.
For the most current lineup information, use the latest team or game-day source before kickoff.
What should Charleston Southern try to fix after the 12-10 loss to Gardner-Webb?
The clearest reported issue for Charleston Southern after the Gardner-Webb loss was the passing game.
The Buccaneers lost 12-10 and finished with only 38 passing yards. That number explains why quarterback became a major talking point entering the South Carolina State matchup.
The immediate fix: more passing production
Charleston Southern needed to find more reliable yardage through the air.
The reported response was a planned quarterback change, with Jared Echols set to start against South Carolina State. Echols had played in three games and had gone 9-for-19 for 121 passing yards with one interception.
Why Jared Echols became part of the answer
Coach Gabe Giardina said the staff felt good about the move and mentioned Echols’ practice work.
That does not guarantee a quick fix. It does show that Charleston Southern viewed the change as a practical step after a low-output passing game against Gardner-Webb.
What remains uncertain
The available context does not say whether the play-calling, protection, receiver usage, or overall offensive plan would change. It only confirms the passing total, the loss, and the planned move to Echols.
Lineups and game plans can shift, so the latest team information is worth checking close to kickoff.
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