Gamecocks areas of most need after spring practice
April 09, 2019
Spring practice is when a college football team starts to get a sense of the kinds of answers it will have for the big questions going into the next season.
And South Carolina football coach Will Muschamp pointed to the most vital question his team will have in the transition from spring to the next time his team hits the practice field in summer.
“Probably the most pressing thing, maybe, is to have some young secondary guys step up,” Muschamp said in an interview with 107.5 The Game. “Because right now, Jaycee Horn and Isreal (Mukuamu) would be our starting corners. A.J. Turner is your third corner right now. He’s also playing running back for us. His primary position is going to be running back for us.”
In the spring game, the backups at cornerback were two walk-ons, as Turner was mostly playing offense.
Horn was a true freshman starter from his first game. He played at nickel, but the staff likes his length on the outside. Mukuamu stands at 6-foot-4, and after starting last year as a reserve he grew into a staple on the defense as injuries mounted.
Muschamp praised Mukuamu late, especially as he went against Clemson’s talented receivers.
The Gamecocks will have reinforcements, and talented ones, too. When Cam Smith finally enrolls (he was supposed to be in for spring), he’ll add another long, taller corner, one who was a top-150 recruit in the 247Sports Composite rankings (top-40 by one rating).
Beyond him, South Carolina’s coaches were high on Tampa corner John Dixon’s man-to-man skills, and Shilo Sanders could perhaps find a home at that position.
The Gamecocks went into last year with only two veterans at corner and went through some ups and downs as Rashad Fenton and Keisean Nixon were inconsistent.
USC’s front line on the outside could be better in the coming season. But that doesn’t mean their coach isn’t a bit worried about the guys behind them.
“We’re just a little thin there,” Muschamp said. “Extremely talented. I like our ability.
“So that, to me, on defense is going to be a huge part.”
A few other topics worked to the forefront of the coach’s mind, questions that will need answers coming out of spring:
▪ The quarterback situation: “We’ve got to continue to iron that out.”
▪ “See who emerges in fall camp at the running back position.”
▪ “Continue to step forward at the receiver position.”
▪ “We probably need two of these offensive linemen to come in and help us on the offensive line and continue to develop the quality depth.”
April 09, 2019
Spring practice is when a college football team starts to get a sense of the kinds of answers it will have for the big questions going into the next season.
And South Carolina football coach Will Muschamp pointed to the most vital question his team will have in the transition from spring to the next time his team hits the practice field in summer.
“Probably the most pressing thing, maybe, is to have some young secondary guys step up,” Muschamp said in an interview with 107.5 The Game. “Because right now, Jaycee Horn and Isreal (Mukuamu) would be our starting corners. A.J. Turner is your third corner right now. He’s also playing running back for us. His primary position is going to be running back for us.”
In the spring game, the backups at cornerback were two walk-ons, as Turner was mostly playing offense.
Horn was a true freshman starter from his first game. He played at nickel, but the staff likes his length on the outside. Mukuamu stands at 6-foot-4, and after starting last year as a reserve he grew into a staple on the defense as injuries mounted.
Muschamp praised Mukuamu late, especially as he went against Clemson’s talented receivers.
The Gamecocks will have reinforcements, and talented ones, too. When Cam Smith finally enrolls (he was supposed to be in for spring), he’ll add another long, taller corner, one who was a top-150 recruit in the 247Sports Composite rankings (top-40 by one rating).
Beyond him, South Carolina’s coaches were high on Tampa corner John Dixon’s man-to-man skills, and Shilo Sanders could perhaps find a home at that position.
The Gamecocks went into last year with only two veterans at corner and went through some ups and downs as Rashad Fenton and Keisean Nixon were inconsistent.
USC’s front line on the outside could be better in the coming season. But that doesn’t mean their coach isn’t a bit worried about the guys behind them.
“We’re just a little thin there,” Muschamp said. “Extremely talented. I like our ability.
“So that, to me, on defense is going to be a huge part.”
A few other topics worked to the forefront of the coach’s mind, questions that will need answers coming out of spring:
▪ The quarterback situation: “We’ve got to continue to iron that out.”
▪ “See who emerges in fall camp at the running back position.”
▪ “Continue to step forward at the receiver position.”
▪ “We probably need two of these offensive linemen to come in and help us on the offensive line and continue to develop the quality depth.”