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Honors continue to roll in for Jeffery
Alshon Jeffery scores one of his three touchdowns Saturday against Kentucky.
Gerry Melendez/gmelendez@thestate.com
Written by SETH EMERSON
semerson@thestate.com
Posted on 10.13.09
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Steve Spurrier is thanking the people who helped bring receiver Alshon Jeffery into the program.
Jeffery was named the SEC freshman of the week Monday, a couple of days after catching three touchdown passes in a 28-26 victory against Kentucky.
The St. Matthews native received a game ball for his efforts. Upon further reflection, Spurrier decided to spread credit around to his assistant coaches, too.
Recruiting coordinator Shane Beamer got a game ball for his "continual recruiting" of Jeffery. Jeffery originally committed to Southern California but decided on the Gamecocks on National Signing Day.
"He didn't give up on him. He hung in there with him," Spurrier said of Beamer. "Of course, a lot of guys were involved in recruiting also. Steve (Spurrier) Jr. and Eric Wolford spent some time recruiting him also."
Sophomore cornerback C.C. Whitlock was also given a game ball. Whitlock, starting his second game in place of the suspended Akeem Auguste, had six tackles and helped snuff out a fake field goal.
Saunders is back. Tight end Weslye Saunders is poised to return to the starting lineup. The junior missed the Kentucky game with a sprained ankle, and although he was in a yellow non-contact jersey Monday, Spurrier said Saunders "ran around fine" and would play.
"Justice Cunningham struggled a little bit as a freshman like we figured he would," Spurrier said. "But yeah, Weslye needs to get back playing and blocking, hopefully catching a few here and there. We need everybody we can to give us a chance this week."
Night owls. Make that seven of eight night games for USC so far this season.
Vanderbilt's visit on Oct. 24 will kick off at 7 p.m. and be televised by ESPN, it was announced Monday. The Gamecocks' only day game has been Saturday's victory against Kentucky, which began at 12:30 p.m.
Burning a redshirt? Freshman guard Nick Allison might not redshirt this season after all. Unhappy with the performance of his guards, offensive line coach Eric Wolford is considering playing Allison as soon as Saturday's game at No. 2 Alabama.
"We're here to win games, and if Nick's as good as anybody we're playing with, then we need to play him," Wolford said.
Allison most likely would play left guard, since right guard T.J. Johnson has started every game. The other spot has been in flux, and the 6-foot-4, 285-pound Allison could help.
"I noticed him when he was going on the (second-team) offense against our (first-team) defense in the inside drill, he did some really good things," Wolford said. "Talked to (defensive line) coach Lawing about it, and (defensive tackle) Melvin (Ingram) and some of our other players. They feel like he's as good as some other players we've got, so why not play him?"
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