COLUMBIA — A. J. Cann started all 13 University of South Carolina games at right guard in 2011.
Cann is returning to that spot, but with more experience and extra pounds which should help the Gamecocks clear the way for junior Marcus Lattimore.
Despite his performance, there was little mention of the Bamberg resident.
That’s just fine with him. For an offensive lineman, the less they are discussed means the better they’re playing.
“It’s fine with (USC right guard Ronald Patrick) and me,” said Cann of being somewhat anonymous. “If we’re not mentioned it doesn’t matter. Everybody is just going to continue to work hard. The whole offensive line is working hard. We lost some seniors from last year’s team but we feel we are continuing to get better.”
After entering USC weighing in the 275-pound range, the 6-4 Cann will begin play at 309 pounds this season. Although he was named a freshman All-American last season, he appears ready to not only improve but become one of the leaders of the unit.
“When I first came in, I weighed in the 275-280 range,” said Cann. “In college football everybody is bigger and stronger. I have to continue to get bigger and stronger. I am trying to improve everything, not just size and strength, drills, pass blocking, run blocking – everything. I need to continue to get better every day.”
The Gamecocks are pairing two sophomores, a redshirt freshman and a junior who has received spotty playing time, with senior All-Southeastern Conference candidate T. J. Johnson at center.
Sophomores Mike Matulis and Cody Gibson are battling for the starting position at right tackle, with Matulis holding the edge. Redshirt freshman Brandon Shell will open the season at left tackle.
“They’re doing pretty decent,” Spurrier said of the Gamecocks offensive line. “I think our line actually should play a little better than last year’s line…We’ll be a little bit stronger and biggest up there and the guys should know what to do.”
USC offensive line coach Shaw Elliott is pleased with Cann’s progression.
He is a guy who started every game a year ago and now he is coming into his second full year of being the guy at left guard,” said Elliott. “He knows what to do. He is very confident of what he is doing. He is a strong and mobile athlete. I expect a big year out of him.”
Elliott also wants Cann to become more of a leader, which he’s doing in his own way.
“Although I am one of the quieter guys, I try to lead by example a whole lot more than vocal,” said Cann. “I have to learn to be more vocal because, like coach Elliott says, he needs some guys to step up. I guess I have to be one of the guys who start talking a lot more.”
• USC coach Steve Spurrier said after watching film of the team’s Wednesday scrimmage, quarterback Connor Shaw played better than originally thought.
“He threw the ball well,” said Spurrier. “There were a couple sacks in there. He didn’t quite have time to throw, but he was pretty good (Wed.) night. He was nine out of 12.
“(USC Assistant AD/Media Relations) Steve Fink just told me he has the best winning percentage of any quarterback who ever played here, 8-1. He got credit for the East Carolina game. Sometimes in life we get credit for something we are not a part of and sometimes we get blamed for stuff we are not a part of. He is a good quarterback, a very good quarterback. Hopefully he can take us a long way this year.”
• Redshirt freshman cornerback Ahmad Christian suffered a concussion in Wednesday’s scrimmage. Freshman linebacker Kaiwan Lewis and tight end Kelvin Rainey were hit in the head earlier in the week in practice.
• Spurrier said freshman running back Kendric Salley, who had knee surgery in his senior year of high school, will probably be redshirted.
Cann is returning to that spot, but with more experience and extra pounds which should help the Gamecocks clear the way for junior Marcus Lattimore.
Despite his performance, there was little mention of the Bamberg resident.
That’s just fine with him. For an offensive lineman, the less they are discussed means the better they’re playing.
“It’s fine with (USC right guard Ronald Patrick) and me,” said Cann of being somewhat anonymous. “If we’re not mentioned it doesn’t matter. Everybody is just going to continue to work hard. The whole offensive line is working hard. We lost some seniors from last year’s team but we feel we are continuing to get better.”
After entering USC weighing in the 275-pound range, the 6-4 Cann will begin play at 309 pounds this season. Although he was named a freshman All-American last season, he appears ready to not only improve but become one of the leaders of the unit.
“When I first came in, I weighed in the 275-280 range,” said Cann. “In college football everybody is bigger and stronger. I have to continue to get bigger and stronger. I am trying to improve everything, not just size and strength, drills, pass blocking, run blocking – everything. I need to continue to get better every day.”
The Gamecocks are pairing two sophomores, a redshirt freshman and a junior who has received spotty playing time, with senior All-Southeastern Conference candidate T. J. Johnson at center.
Sophomores Mike Matulis and Cody Gibson are battling for the starting position at right tackle, with Matulis holding the edge. Redshirt freshman Brandon Shell will open the season at left tackle.
“They’re doing pretty decent,” Spurrier said of the Gamecocks offensive line. “I think our line actually should play a little better than last year’s line…We’ll be a little bit stronger and biggest up there and the guys should know what to do.”
USC offensive line coach Shaw Elliott is pleased with Cann’s progression.
He is a guy who started every game a year ago and now he is coming into his second full year of being the guy at left guard,” said Elliott. “He knows what to do. He is very confident of what he is doing. He is a strong and mobile athlete. I expect a big year out of him.”
Elliott also wants Cann to become more of a leader, which he’s doing in his own way.
“Although I am one of the quieter guys, I try to lead by example a whole lot more than vocal,” said Cann. “I have to learn to be more vocal because, like coach Elliott says, he needs some guys to step up. I guess I have to be one of the guys who start talking a lot more.”
• USC coach Steve Spurrier said after watching film of the team’s Wednesday scrimmage, quarterback Connor Shaw played better than originally thought.
“He threw the ball well,” said Spurrier. “There were a couple sacks in there. He didn’t quite have time to throw, but he was pretty good (Wed.) night. He was nine out of 12.
“(USC Assistant AD/Media Relations) Steve Fink just told me he has the best winning percentage of any quarterback who ever played here, 8-1. He got credit for the East Carolina game. Sometimes in life we get credit for something we are not a part of and sometimes we get blamed for stuff we are not a part of. He is a good quarterback, a very good quarterback. Hopefully he can take us a long way this year.”
• Redshirt freshman cornerback Ahmad Christian suffered a concussion in Wednesday’s scrimmage. Freshman linebacker Kaiwan Lewis and tight end Kelvin Rainey were hit in the head earlier in the week in practice.
• Spurrier said freshman running back Kendric Salley, who had knee surgery in his senior year of high school, will probably be redshirted.
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