RATING THE SEC QBS
Projected starters heading into preseason practice:
1. Nick Marshall, Auburn
2. Bo Wallace, Ole Miss
3. Dak Prescott, Miss. State
4. Dylan Thompson, USC
5. Jeff Driskell, Florida
6. Maty Mauk, Missouri
7. Hutson Mason, Georgia
8. Justin Worley, Tennessee
9. Jacon Coker, Alabama
10. Kenny Hill, Texas A&M
11. Anthony Jennings, LSU
12. Brandon Allen, Arkansas
13. Patrick Towles, Kentucky
14. Patton Robinette, Vandy
After the past three weeks, Dylan Thompson is unlikely to be fazed by the spectacle of SEC Media Days.
South Carolina’s senior starting quarterback will make his first turn as the “face of the program” Tuesday during the Gamecocks’ rotation through the annual extravaganza that marks the beginning of football season.
The prospect of facing more than 1,000 writers, analysts and anchors seems ho-hum, though, after a 21-day stretch in which Thompson completed a mission trip to Israel and worked as an instructor at the Manning Passing Academy in Natchitoches, La.
“I am just ready to go play,” Thompson said. “The media days stuff is cool, but I am ready to get on the field Aug. 1 (for practice) and go play.”
Thompson, offensive lineman A.J. Cann and defensive tackle J.T. Surratt will represent South Carolina along with coach Steve Spurrier during the four-day SEC event, which is held in Hoover, Ala. It will be the least pressure-packed event of the month for Thompson.
He and Cann spent 10 days traveling through Israel, conducting evening football camps and promoting Christianity.
“Just, wow, I guess is the easiest way to describe it,” Thompson said. “On so many levels, you see so much different stuff.”
Recent fighting between Israel and Palestine made their trip dicey at moments, Thompson said.
“We did see some stuff that you don’t see every day in Columbia, S.C.,” Thompson said. “That was a teaching moment for us in just how precious life is because we talked to guys over there who were afraid to walk home.”
The trip, which was scheduled for the Gamecocks’ only off week of the summer, included a daily schedule that had the players go to bed after midnight and wake at 8 a.m. to travel to another location for another camp.
“My parents asked me what I learned and I said, ‘Appreciation,’ ” Thompson said. “Everybody there appreciated us being there – then just the appreciation for life. I get to go out there on Saturdays and do something I absolutely love with no fear of anything coming at me – literally for those guys.”
Thompson has started three games for South Carolina and is 120-of-218 (55 percent) passing for 1,827 yards, 14 touchdowns and five interceptions in his career.
“My goals, yes, are to have an NFL future, but a lot of life is about relationships,” Thompson said. “Whatever I am doing, I want to honor God and love people and that’s what I try to here and (will try to do) wherever I land next year, whether it’s an NFL camp or bagging groceries somewhere. I want to be making somebody’s day and making their day better and loving them like Jesus wants me to.”
Projected starters heading into preseason practice:
1. Nick Marshall, Auburn
2. Bo Wallace, Ole Miss
3. Dak Prescott, Miss. State
4. Dylan Thompson, USC
5. Jeff Driskell, Florida
6. Maty Mauk, Missouri
7. Hutson Mason, Georgia
8. Justin Worley, Tennessee
9. Jacon Coker, Alabama
10. Kenny Hill, Texas A&M
11. Anthony Jennings, LSU
12. Brandon Allen, Arkansas
13. Patrick Towles, Kentucky
14. Patton Robinette, Vandy
After the past three weeks, Dylan Thompson is unlikely to be fazed by the spectacle of SEC Media Days.
South Carolina’s senior starting quarterback will make his first turn as the “face of the program” Tuesday during the Gamecocks’ rotation through the annual extravaganza that marks the beginning of football season.
The prospect of facing more than 1,000 writers, analysts and anchors seems ho-hum, though, after a 21-day stretch in which Thompson completed a mission trip to Israel and worked as an instructor at the Manning Passing Academy in Natchitoches, La.
“I am just ready to go play,” Thompson said. “The media days stuff is cool, but I am ready to get on the field Aug. 1 (for practice) and go play.”
Thompson, offensive lineman A.J. Cann and defensive tackle J.T. Surratt will represent South Carolina along with coach Steve Spurrier during the four-day SEC event, which is held in Hoover, Ala. It will be the least pressure-packed event of the month for Thompson.
He and Cann spent 10 days traveling through Israel, conducting evening football camps and promoting Christianity.
“Just, wow, I guess is the easiest way to describe it,” Thompson said. “On so many levels, you see so much different stuff.”
Recent fighting between Israel and Palestine made their trip dicey at moments, Thompson said.
“We did see some stuff that you don’t see every day in Columbia, S.C.,” Thompson said. “That was a teaching moment for us in just how precious life is because we talked to guys over there who were afraid to walk home.”
The trip, which was scheduled for the Gamecocks’ only off week of the summer, included a daily schedule that had the players go to bed after midnight and wake at 8 a.m. to travel to another location for another camp.
“My parents asked me what I learned and I said, ‘Appreciation,’ ” Thompson said. “Everybody there appreciated us being there – then just the appreciation for life. I get to go out there on Saturdays and do something I absolutely love with no fear of anything coming at me – literally for those guys.”
Thompson has started three games for South Carolina and is 120-of-218 (55 percent) passing for 1,827 yards, 14 touchdowns and five interceptions in his career.
“My goals, yes, are to have an NFL future, but a lot of life is about relationships,” Thompson said. “Whatever I am doing, I want to honor God and love people and that’s what I try to here and (will try to do) wherever I land next year, whether it’s an NFL camp or bagging groceries somewhere. I want to be making somebody’s day and making their day better and loving them like Jesus wants me to.”
