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Practice report: RB Davis 'ready to play'
Posted on 08.22.08
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News of the day
USC’s preparation for its opener against N.C. State was thrown a slight curve on Friday. The Wolfpack announced that redshirt freshman Russell Wilson will be its starting quarterback, rather than Daniel Evans, who started eight games last year.
N.C. State coach Tom O’Brien said Evans will play some in the first half. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Wilson is more of a dual threat than Evans.
USC coach Steve Spurrier admitted he didn’t know much about Wilson, but hoped to be prepared.
“It’s interesting that they’ve chosen him,” Spurrier said. “But I guess they chose him because they think he’s the best quarterback to help them win the ballgame. That’s how you make decisions. That’s why Tommy Beecher is starting for us.”
Stock rising
Walk-on receiver Stephen Flint drew praise from Spurrier on the coach’s call-in show Thursday. Spurrier said the redshirt freshman from Mount Pleasant catches everything thrown to him. Flint, whose older brother Michael was a walk-on at USC before earning a scholarship, is also a backup holder for place kicks.
Stock falling
Tailback Bobby Wallace, a senior, was in a scout team jersey at Friday’s practice. Wallace was never able to leapfrog others on the tailback depth chart, and fell behind freshman Eric Baker.
Injury report
Tailback Mike Davis practiced a second time since returning from a shoulder injury and stomach virus. Spurrier said the senior is “ready to play.” ... Starting defensive tackle Nate Pepper may have caught the stomach bug from Davis. Pepper missed Thursday’s practice with a similar illness.
Extra points
Assistant coach Shane Beamer became a father on Thursday to a 7-pound, 1-ounce girl named Emma Sutton Beamer. It’s the first child for Beamer and his wife Emily. ... Spurrier reiterated that Ryan Succop will not punt in the opener, despite being the preseason All-SEC first-team choice at the position. While Succop concentrates on place-kicking and kickoffs, Spencer Lanning and Ryan Doerr will punt. Spurrier said special teams coach Ray Rychleski will make the choice: “We’re trying to keep that secretive right now,” Spurrier said.
Quote of the day
“It was, ‘Hey, congratulations. What are we going to do against this formation?’ ” — Beamer on the muted reaction from his fellow assistants, because of game preparation.
Scouting report
Wilson has already played on some big stages — in baseball. A second baseman, he appeared in 32 games for the Wolfpack last spring, though he didn’t play in either NCAA regional game against South Carolina.
“Playing here at N.C. State and also playing at Florida State and Georgia, obviously that was a great experience for me, playing on national TV,” Wilson said. “But I’ve been waiting (to start at quarterback for the Wolfpact) my whole life.”
— Seth Emerson
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