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Practice report: Barnes and Culliver out at free safety; Woodson will start against Gators

Posted on 11.13.08
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News of the day

South Carolina is getting thin at free safety.

Starter Chris Culliver is suspended for the first half of Saturday’s Florida game for his ejection for fighting near the end of the Arkansas game. His backup, freshman Akeem Auguste, is questionable with a hamstring injury.

Mark Barnes, who plays at both safety spots, is scheduled to undergo hernia surgery soon. He is also expected to transfer at the end of the season.

As a result, the Gamecocks have been forced to move a couple of players around in the secondary. Fifth-year cornerback Stoney Woodson is expected to start at free safety against the Gators; spur linebacker Darian Stewart also has seen action there.

“Akeem didn’t do anything today, so he’s a wait-and-see. He may not make it,” USC coach Steve Spurrier said. “We’re a little low on DBs right now, and they play five wide receivers every now and then. We’ll put whoever we got out there.”

Woodson, who has started eight games at corner and leads the team with four interceptions, has played the position previously. But defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson is concerned about the trickle-down effect caused by Culliver’s suspension.

“You don’t want your starting safety out when you’re getting ready to play one of the best offensive teams in the country,” Johnson said. “If we get a kid hurt in that first half and he has to come out of the game for a while, then we’re seriously going to be just holding on for dear life with some kids that haven’t played very much.”

Stock rising

Johnson’s savings account. The first-year coordinator has incentives worth $10,000 if the Gamecocks finish in the top six in the SEC in total defense and another $10,000 for a top-3 showing. USC is first in total defense (256.5 ypg), ahead of Alabama (264.5 ypg) and Tennessee (275.6).

“He’s going to hit that one,” Spurrier said.

Stock falling

Receivers not named Kenny McKinley. While McKinley has been breaking Sterling Sharpe’s records, the Gamecocks’ other receivers have combined for three catches for 4 yards the past two games. Jason Barnes has not had a reception since the LSU game.

Injury report

Receiver Moe Brown sprained his knee Wednesday when a teammate fell into his leg, Spurrier said. Brown’s status for Saturday’s game is uncertain.

Quote of the day

“One thing I’ve taken dislike to is that little clapping thing they do. For some reason, I just don’t like it. I don’t know what it is. I could care less for it. I might have a real good game because I’m going to have a lot of meanness in me because of that. I see it on the video games. That crap’s stupid.”

—USC left tackle Jarriel King on the Gator chomp.

Extra point

Gators coach Urban Meyer referred to USC tight end Jared Cook as a future first-round draft pick and praised McKinley and linebackers Eric Norwood and Jasper Brinkley during the SEC teleconference Wednesday.

“Their two inside guys on defense, you start to worry about something other than blocking those two cats and you’ve got a problem,” Meyer said. “Then they’ve got a first-rounder at tight end and No. 11 (McKinley). So there’s plenty of issues that we’re dealing with.”

Scouting report

Florida and Penn State are the only Division I-A teams ranked in the top 10 in both scoring offense and scoring defense. The Gators are seventh in scoring (42.8 ppg) and fourth in scoring defense (11.9 ppg).

— Joseph Person

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