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TIM DOMINICK/tdominick@thestate.com/
Former USC football stars (from left) Mike McCabe, center; Jeff Grantz, QB; Del Wilkes, guard; and Brad Edwards, safety.
GoGamecocks.com
USC football: The best of the best
A panel of former players chooses the top Gamecocks of all time
George Rogers runs in the Gator Bowl in December 1980.
Florida Times-Union file photo
Written by BOB GILLESPIE
bgillespie@thestate.com
Posted on 08.30.09
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The panel
Former USC greats picked their favorite player at each position of all time.
DEL WILKES — All-American guard on 1984 “Black Magic” team that finished 10-2.
DAN REEVES — Quarterback from 1962-64, later played for Dallas Cowboys and coached three NFL teams.
JEFF GRANTZ — Second-team All-American quarterback in 1975, led USC to Tangerine Bowl and 56-20 victory against Clemson.
GEORGE ROGERS — Heisman Trophy winner in 1980, All-American 1979-80, school career rushing leader with 5,204 yards, first pick of 1981 NFL Draft (New Orleans Saints).
RICK SANFORD — USC’s first first-round NFL pick by New England Patriots where he played 1979-84, Sporting News All-American in 1978.
RYAN BREWER — Led USC in kickoff returns (1999, 2001), punt returns (1999-2002) and receiving (2002) as a running back, led Gamecocks to Outback Bowl victory.
JOHNNY GREGORY — Tight end from 1966-68, team captain and Rex Enright Award winner as senior.
MIKE McCABE — Center from 1973-75, won Jacobs Blocking Trophy, voted to post-World War II all-time USC team.
COREY MILLER — Linebacker from 1988-90 when USC was 20-13-1, played for the NFL’s New York Giants.
TOMMY SUGGS — Quarterback 1968-70, sixth in career pass completions, led USC to only ACC championship (1969), never lost to Clemson.
MAX RUNAGER — Punter averaged a single-game best 47 yards per kick vs. Mississippi (1978) and is second in career punting average (41.1 yards on 192 punts, 1974, 1976-78).
South Carolina fans love to argue about the Gamecocks’ best players of all time. Granted, there aren’t a lot of disagreements about the school’s top running back — the 1980 Heisman Trophy belonging to George Rogers trumps everyone else — but at other positions, the debates can be vigorous.
Who is the best offensive lineman: Del Wilkes, Steve Courson, Jamar Nesbitt, Travelle Wharton or a player from an earlier era?
The best defensive back? Best linebacker? And don’t even get USC faithful going on the best quarterback; at least a half-dozen would get votes.
So instead, we put it to those who should know best: past USC football stars. A panel of 11 ex-Gamecocks, including Rogers, chose their favorite player at each position.
Some of the results will surprise you; some won’t. But at least you figure they come with an insider’s knowledge of what matters.
(Note: Some panelists voted for more than one player at a position. Panelists were asked not to vote for themselves; some did anyway.)
USC BEST OF ALL TIME BY POSITION
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK — JEFF GRANTZ (7 votes). Others: Tommy Suggs, Gary Harper, Steve Taneyhill
COMMENT: “Best overall quarterback: running, passing and leadership.” — Mike McCabe
“Talent, heart and leadership — Jeff had it all.” — Del Wilkes
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RUNNING BACK — GEORGE ROGERS (9 votes). Others: Harold Green, Billy Gambrell
COMMENT: “The best combination of speed and power ever to play for USC... . Had the ability to explode through the hole and downfield like few others could. Only Heisman winner.” — Wilkes
“Not only at (USC) but one of the best ever to play college (football).” — Tommy Suggs
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FULLBACK — WARREN MUIR (3 votes). Others: Stanley Pritchett, Harold Green, George Rogers, Steve Dorsey, Andrew Pinnock, Clarence Williams, Kevin Long.
COMMENT: “Undersized, but one of the best true fullbacks in the ACC.” — Suggs
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WIDE RECEIVER — STERLING SHARPE (9 votes). Others: Zion McKinney, Fred Zeigler. (Sidney Rice mention)
COMMENT: “Could do everything. A game-changer and difference-maker. Hands and speed, but (also) the strongest and most powerful wide receiver I’ve ever seen. A first-team All-American.” — Wilkes
“Set standards for all future receivers.” — McCabe
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TIGHT END — WILLIE SCOTT (9 votes). Others: Jay Saldi, Rod Trafford.
COMMENT: “In a league of his own. (Current USC tight end) Weslye Saunders could take his place some day as the best ever if he will play four years.” — Johnny Gregory
“USC not known for tight ends (but) he’s by far the best.” — Suggs
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TACKLE — (tie) DAVE DeCAMILLA, JIM MOSS, GEORGE SCHECHTERLY (2 votes each). Others: Jamar Nesbitt, Joel Goodrich, Chuck Slaughter, Travelle Wharton, Ed Pitts.
COMMENT: “(Moss) was All-Acc twice, won S.C. Jacobs Blocking Trophy, played both offense and defense.” — Gregory
“(DeCamilla was a) big, strong lineman from the 1960s.” — McCabe
“(Schechterly) was the big redheaded guy who blocked so well for George Rogers.” — Runager
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GUARD — (tie) DEL WILKES, STEVE COURSON (3 votes each). Others: Dom Fusci, Ed Pitts, Frank Mincevich, Jerome Provence.
COMMENT: “(Wilkes was) no question, the best. One of only two consensus All-Americans to play at USC.” — Suggs
“(Courson was) strong, quick, smart — all qualities of a good lineman.” — McCabe
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CENTER — (tie) LOU SOSSAMON, MIKE McCABE (2 votes). Others: Leonard Burton, Richard Lomas, Darrell Austin, Mark Austin, Quay Farr, Bryan Meeks, Chris White.
COMMENT: “(Sossamon was) first (actually, second) USC football player to make All-American (1942, Associated Press second team) and was twice all-Southern Conference.” — Gregory
“(McCabe) blocked for my guys, Kevin Long and Clarence Williams. Very solid player.” — Runager
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DEFENSE
END — (tie) JOHN ABRAHAM, ERIC NORWOOD (3 votes each). Others: Chuck Allen, Jim Moss, John LeHeup, Corey Miller.
COMMENT: “(Abraham was) one of the greatest pass-rushers to play at USC. So much speed off the edge, at times he was almost unblockable. Team MVP as senior (1999).” — Wilkes
“Although (Norwood) changed positions, still better at Carolina than Abraham.” — Suggs
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TACKLE — ANDREW PROVENCE (5 votes). Others: John LeHeup, Emmanuel Weaver, Ken Wheat, Roy Hart, Eric Norwood.
COMMENT: “Incredibly, as a down lineman, he is the career leader in sacks and in second place in both total tackles and tackles for loss.” — Gregory
“Combination of strength and quickness made him great against the run and just as good at rushing the (quarterback). Great work ethic.” — Wilkes
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LINEBACKER — JAMES SEAWRIGHT (3 votes). Others: Corey Miller, John Caskey, Ed Baxley, David Prezioso, J.D. Fuller, John Abraham.
COMMENT: “First-team All-American in 1984 and leader of the Fire Ants defense. Quickness and agility from sideline to sideline made a football field seem as if it were 30 yards wide. Could get to the ball in a hurry.” — Wilkes
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CORNERBACK — SHELDON BROWN (6 votes). Others: Rick Sanford, Bobby Bryant.
COMMENT: “All-American, SEC coaches’ All-Conference. Led the team two seasons in passes broken up and second on career list for passes broken up.” — Gregory
“Good cover corner, but could also come up and be very effective on run support. Physical player, big hitter and smart player, that allowed him to become second-team All-American (and NFL regular in Philadelphia).” — Wilkes
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SAFETY — BRAD EDWARDS (4½ votes). Others: Bobby Bryant, Robert Perlotte, Dickie Harris, Ko Simpson, Rashad Faison, Tony Watkins.
COMMENT: “Very athletic and a leader.” — McCabe
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SPECIAL TEAMS
PLACEKICKER — COLLIN MACKIE (7 votes). Others: Ryan Succop, Eddie Leopard, Bobby Marino.
COMMENT: “Ended his career as leading scorer in USC history (330 points, still school record). Made 73 percent of field goal attempts (72 of 98).” — Wilkes
“Hall of Fame kicker; statistics support it.” — McCabe
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PUNTER — MAX RUNAGER (8 votes). Others: Courtney Leavitt, Robbie Reynolds.
COMMENT: “Career at USC solidified by long NFL career.” — McCabe
“Selected as punter on USC all-time team.” — Wilkes
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RETURN SPECIALIST — DICKIE HARRIS (7 votes). Others: Billy Gambrell, Robert Brooks, Raynard Brown.
COMMENT: “First-team All-American, returned kick and interception for touchdowns vs. Georgia in 1970, both more than 80 yards. Elected to Canadian Football League Hall of Fame with Montreal.” — Wilkes
“No question, had more big plays in big games than anyone. ... (USC) could use him now.” — Suggs
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