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USC's early enrollees get jump on playing time

Devonte Holloman

USC defensive back Devonte Holloman blocks teammate Jason Barnes during special teams drills on Tuesday.

Gerry Melendez/gmelendez@thestate.com

Written by SETH EMERSON

semerson@thestate.com
Posted on 04.01.09
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Gerry Melendez/gmelendez@thestate.com/

USC's Jarvis Giles has an eye on the starting running back job.

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DeVonte Holloman could have been going through senioritis right now: blowing off classes, getting ready for prom, planning a few pranks.

His former classmates at South Pointe High — with one notable exception — might be doing that right now. But Holloman and Stephon Gilmore are spending the spring at USC, getting a big head start on becoming a contributor for the Gamecocks football team this fall.

It was a pragmatic decision, according to Holloman.

“Staying in high school, when you’ve got all your credits, it’s kind of pointless,” Holloman said. “So we figured this would be a better thing for us, and it is.”

Holloman, Gilmore and Jarvis Giles are early enrollees for USC and fresh out of high school. (Several other newcomers were in junior college or prep school.)

The practice of leaving high school early has become common, but these three new Gamecocks are trying to buck a recent trend for USC.

Last year, quarterback Reid McCollum enrolled early but left school after a few weeks, citing homesickness. He returned for the fall, redshirted and is now the backup.

Receiver/cornerback C.C. Whitlock stayed through spring practice, but he has been in and out of the coaches’ doghouse since then. He currently is suspended indefinitely.

Two years ago Stephen Garcia never made it to spring practice because of off-field trouble. Now, he’s the starting quarterback.

Travian Robertson (2007) has been free of issues and has played as a reserve his first two seasons. The only other high school early enrollee the past few years was fullback Clark Gaston (2006), who played sparingly before transferring to Wofford after last season.

The lesson is that coming in early is no guarantee for immediate playing time.

“It just depends on the person, what kind of person you are,” Holloman said. “If you come in with the right attitude, willing to work hard, you’ll get a lot out of it. But if you come in not trying to get the most out of it, you probably won’t.”

Every indication so far is that this year’s group of early enrollees is doing quite well.

Gilmore is playing with the first team at cornerback and has been getting a look at quarterback in some packages.

Holloman is running with the second team at strong safety. After the departure of four players from last year’s secondary, Gilmore and Holloman virtually are assured of playing this fall.

Giles is in the mix at tailback and is one of four candidates for starter. After Tuesday’s practice he was beating out his position mates in sprint drills.

“I’ve seen a lot of freshmen come in the spring ball that should still be in high school, and they’re really overwhelmed,” USC running game coordinator Eric Wolford said. “(Giles) hasn’t really been overwhelmed like I’ve seen some other guys in the past.”

All three players were highly-rated recruits, especially Gilmore, who was a Parade All-American. The Gamecocks’ top-rated recruit, receiver Alshon Jeffery from Calhoun County, also was at Tuesday’s practice — but in street clothes as an observer.

Jeffery could go home and do what other high school seniors do, but his three future teammates who are already at USC say they have no regrets.

“I don’t feel like I’m missing out,” Gilmore said. “This is what I want to do.”

Reach Emerson at (803) 771-8676.

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