Gamecocks practice observations: Recruits on the scene, who got 2nd team QB work
March 28, 2019
South Carolina’s football team stayed indoors on a chilly Thursday morning, working on kickoffs, field goals and some offense- and defense-specific work in the early going. The team also had a host of recruits in the building to take in practice.
A few observations:
▪ The group of recruits included the likes of:
-- Four-star running back Will Shipley from North Carolina
-- Three-star tight end Kendall Karr from the Charlotte area
-- Georgia tackle Dezmond Tell
-- Three-star corner Devan Boykin out of the Greensboro area
-- A group of players from National Christian Academy in Maryland, a team with two four-star players on its roster
▪ The last practice open to the media before the spring game gave a little look at what the defensive depth chart might be looking like.
1ST TEAM
DL: Aaron Sterling (DE), Kobe Smith (DT), Rick Sandidge (DT), D.J. Wonnum (Buck) (Javon Kinlaw is out for spring)
LB: Sherrod Greene, Ernest Jones, Eldridge Thompson (TJ Brunson is out for spring)
DB: Israel Mukuamu (CB), RJ Roderick (nickel), J.T. Ibe (S), Jamyest Williams (S) Jaycee Horn (CB)
2ND TEAM
DL: Brad Johnson (Buck), Devontae Davis (DT), Jabari Ellis (DT), Kingsley Enagbare (DE)
LB: Zay Brown, Damani Staley, Spencer Eason-Riddle (Middle)
DB: Jordan Villafane (CB), Jaylin Dickerson (S), Jamel Cook (S), Kevin Pickens (CB)
3RD TEAM
DL: Rodricus Fitten (Buck), Keir Thomas (DT), Sadarius Hutcherson (DT), Joseph Anderson (DE)
▪ The offense spent some time working with just quarterbacks and receivers, running through play sequences. The groups during those drills:
1ST TEAM
QB: Jake Bentley
RB: A.J. Turner (Rico Dowdle rotated in)
WR: Shi Smith, Bryan Edwards, Josh Vann
TE: Kiel Pollard (Will Register rotated in)
2ND TEAM
QB: Dakereon Joyner (Ryan Hilinski rotated in)
RB: Kevin Harris
WR: Chad Terrell, Randrecous Davis, Bailey Hart
TE: Keshawn Toney (Evan Hinson rotated in)
The team was working on some bunch sets as well as some tight looks with two receivers to each side. Bryan Edwards took at least one jet sweep during that period.
▪ Hilisnki had at least one nice throw. During one part of practice, the passers were working on one-step drops and later were doing pistol formation handoffs where they took off around the edge.
▪ Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp said the staff would start tapering off the backup QB competition after 10 or so practices. Thursday was No. 11, so Joyner getting most of the work in that short second-team period might mean something, might not.
▪ Early enrollee linebacker Derek Boykins was off working to the side with the injured players.
▪ Dowdle, Thompson and Jamyest Williams were in yellow non-contact jerseys. Offensive lineman Jordon Carty had his hand in a club but was still practicing.
▪ Quarterback Jay Urich continues to spend some time on the kickoff units.
▪ Both Alex Woznik and Parker White had some field goal misses outside 40 yards.
▪ The group of Bryan Edwards, Josh Vann, Jamyest Williams and Jaycee Horn were working at punt returner.
▪ The team has a scrimmage on Saturday, then two practices next week before the spring game.
March 28, 2019
South Carolina’s football team stayed indoors on a chilly Thursday morning, working on kickoffs, field goals and some offense- and defense-specific work in the early going. The team also had a host of recruits in the building to take in practice.
A few observations:
▪ The group of recruits included the likes of:
-- Four-star running back Will Shipley from North Carolina
-- Three-star tight end Kendall Karr from the Charlotte area
-- Georgia tackle Dezmond Tell
-- Three-star corner Devan Boykin out of the Greensboro area
-- A group of players from National Christian Academy in Maryland, a team with two four-star players on its roster
▪ The last practice open to the media before the spring game gave a little look at what the defensive depth chart might be looking like.
1ST TEAM
DL: Aaron Sterling (DE), Kobe Smith (DT), Rick Sandidge (DT), D.J. Wonnum (Buck) (Javon Kinlaw is out for spring)
LB: Sherrod Greene, Ernest Jones, Eldridge Thompson (TJ Brunson is out for spring)
DB: Israel Mukuamu (CB), RJ Roderick (nickel), J.T. Ibe (S), Jamyest Williams (S) Jaycee Horn (CB)
2ND TEAM
DL: Brad Johnson (Buck), Devontae Davis (DT), Jabari Ellis (DT), Kingsley Enagbare (DE)
LB: Zay Brown, Damani Staley, Spencer Eason-Riddle (Middle)
DB: Jordan Villafane (CB), Jaylin Dickerson (S), Jamel Cook (S), Kevin Pickens (CB)
3RD TEAM
DL: Rodricus Fitten (Buck), Keir Thomas (DT), Sadarius Hutcherson (DT), Joseph Anderson (DE)
▪ The offense spent some time working with just quarterbacks and receivers, running through play sequences. The groups during those drills:
1ST TEAM
QB: Jake Bentley
RB: A.J. Turner (Rico Dowdle rotated in)
WR: Shi Smith, Bryan Edwards, Josh Vann
TE: Kiel Pollard (Will Register rotated in)
2ND TEAM
QB: Dakereon Joyner (Ryan Hilinski rotated in)
RB: Kevin Harris
WR: Chad Terrell, Randrecous Davis, Bailey Hart
TE: Keshawn Toney (Evan Hinson rotated in)
The team was working on some bunch sets as well as some tight looks with two receivers to each side. Bryan Edwards took at least one jet sweep during that period.
▪ Hilisnki had at least one nice throw. During one part of practice, the passers were working on one-step drops and later were doing pistol formation handoffs where they took off around the edge.
▪ Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp said the staff would start tapering off the backup QB competition after 10 or so practices. Thursday was No. 11, so Joyner getting most of the work in that short second-team period might mean something, might not.
▪ Early enrollee linebacker Derek Boykins was off working to the side with the injured players.
▪ Dowdle, Thompson and Jamyest Williams were in yellow non-contact jerseys. Offensive lineman Jordon Carty had his hand in a club but was still practicing.
▪ Quarterback Jay Urich continues to spend some time on the kickoff units.
▪ Both Alex Woznik and Parker White had some field goal misses outside 40 yards.
▪ The group of Bryan Edwards, Josh Vann, Jamyest Williams and Jaycee Horn were working at punt returner.
▪ The team has a scrimmage on Saturday, then two practices next week before the spring game.