GoGamecocks.com
It's in Munnerlyn's achy breaky gene pool
Gamecock compares his foot’s reaction to bad weather to grandmother’s arthritis
USC's Captain Munnerlyn heads for the end zone after intercepting a ball on a defensive drill during a Gamecocks practice in August.
Gerry Melendez/gmelendez@thestate.com /The State
Written by JOSEPH PERSON
jperson @thestate.com
Posted on 08.23.08
CommentsGenerally speaking, it is not a good sign when a college athlete brings up his arthritic grandmother when discussing his own health.
But such was the case this week when South Carolina cornerback Captain Munnerlyn felt his surgically repaired left foot begin to throb as a quick-hitting rainstorm doused the Gamecocks’ practice fields.
“She told me when it rains, her arthritis acts up,” Munnerlyn said. “So I was just like, ‘Trainer Bill (Martin), what’s wrong with my foot? It’s aching.’ He said it’s probably because of the rain.”
Other than the rainy-night pain and the day he was caught with his hand in the fried chicken bucket — breaking his no-grease diet pledge — it has been a good preseason for Munnerlyn, whose foot injury last season coincided with one of USC’s worst defensive showings.
After getting hurt against Arkansas last November, Munnerlyn tried to play the next week against Florida but left after one play. Gators quarterback Tim Tebow proceeded to shred the Gamecocks for 424 total yards, including a career-high 304 passing, in Florida’s 51-31 rout.
No one is suggesting Munnerlyn would have single-handedly reined in the eventual Heisman Trophy winner. Nevertheless, USC coaches are glad to have the 5-foot-9, 185-pound junior back at his boundary corner spot.
“Springtime was frustrating for him because he couldn’t do anything,” USC cornerbacks coach Shane Beamer said. “So he’s really had a good (preseason).”
Munnerlyn missed spring practice following surgery to repair his Lisfranc injury. Named for the French surgeon in Napoleon’s army, a Lisfranc injury refers to dislocations or fractures to the myriad of small bones and ligaments that form the arch at the top of the foot.
The injury is common among football players; former USC tailback Duce Staley missed time during the 2000 season with the Philadelphia Eagles because of a Lisfranc injury.
Doctors inserted a screw to stabilize Munnerlyn’s foot, but removed it eight weeks later. Munnerlyn said he has felt little or no pain this summer, with the exception of the rainy night when he was reminded of his grandmother.
“I told (the trainers) I feel kind of old,” Munnerlyn said. “But they just said it’s the bones just developing, getting stronger and stuff.”
Munnerlyn, a second-team selection on the preseason All-SEC team, has five career interceptions and is considered one of the conference’s top cover corners.
“A guy his size and he’s just got a knack for not letting receivers off the line of scrimmage,” said Beamer, who also praised Munnerlyn’s ability to provide run support on the short side of the field.
“He doesn’t shy away from contact,” Beamer added. “If you just call him a cover corner, you’re doing him a disservice because he has all the tools.”
Munnerlyn, who was seventh among USC defenders last season with 47 tackles, is one of the Gamecocks’ fastest players. The Mobile, Ala., native ran the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds in the spring of 2007.
“I actually feel like a step faster for some reason,” he said. “I guess because I worked on my technique a lot and I’ve been out here working hard over the summer with my rehab.”
Munnerlyn also has been working hard on his diet after USC sent him to Chicago for a full medical work-up to figure out why he cramped up during games. The experts determined Munnerlyn was eating too many fried foods.
Munnerlyn had laid off the grease until last week, when Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier walked into the locker room to find Munnerlyn snacking on fried chicken.
“All places, I’m in the locker room eating fried chicken,” Munnerlyn said, laughing. “I said, ‘I had to eat something, coach Spurrier. I was so hungry.’”
It was a weak moment for Munnerlyn, who otherwise has been strong of foot and food choice.
“I told (Spurrier) I hadn’t had fried chicken in so long. I’ve been trying to stay away from it,” he said. “I feel better as a person. My body, my energy level is up.”
Reach Person at (803) 771-8496.
Defensive backs depth chart
Cornerback
No. Name Hgt. Wgt. Class
Captain Munnerlyn 5-9 185 Jr. Tied for the team lead last year with three interceptions
Stoney Woodson 5-11 200 R-Sr. One of only seven scholarship players remaining from Lou Holtz era
Addison Williams 5-8 178 So. Atlanta-area native appeared in 10 games as a freshman
Cornerback
Carlos Thomas 5-11 199 Sr. His 20 career starts are fourth most among USC players
Akeem Auguste 5-9 180 Fr. Had solid showing in spring practice after enrolling in January
Strong safety
Emanuel Cook 5-10 214 Jr. Led the Gamecocks with 92 tackles in ’07 despite missing two games
Chris Hail 5-10 193 Jr. Played mostly special teams his first two seasons
Free safety
Chris Culliver 6-0 199 So. Former receiver has great speed and natural ball instincts
Mark Barnes 6-2 196 R-Fr. Had nine INTs his final two years at Richland Northeast
Most Viewed Stories
- Notes: Saunders critical of pass opportunities
- Commentary: Play-call duties at heart of debate
- Recruiting: Lattimore, Fulton venture out of state
- Coming unraveled: Hogs handle Gamecocks
- Soccer: Women win SEC title
- Morris: Lack of progress maddening for USC
- Quarles Spends Saturday Night at Death Valley
- QBs aim to be elite company
- Oh, snap: O-line's crumble continues
- Saunders speaks out: Targets a concern
@Nyx.CommentBody@