USC practice report: Jeanpierre defends Hunt

News of the day

Lemuel Jeanpierre’s job is to protect the Gamecocks’ quarterbacks, but the fourth-year guard came to the defense of offensive line coach John Hunt on Tuesday.

With USC having allowed more sacks than any major college team in the country and the Gamecocks ranked last in the SEC in rushing offense, Hunt has been the object of much criticism on sports-talk radio shows and Internet message boards.

“He gets beat up a lot. It’s really not deserved. He’s brilliant. If you get in the meeting room with him, how he can pick apart other teams’ defenses and see what they’re doing,” Jeanpierre said. “We have the right calls in there. It’s just that we’ve got to execute. Whenever something happens on the field, a lot of times I put it on myself. I’m not a person for excuses.”

Jeanpierre, a redshirt junior from Orlando, Fla., returned to the starting lineup against LSU after several weeks on the bench.

“I’ve been waiting for another shot. But when I got taken out, it wasn’t for no reason at all,” he said. “They just had to try somebody else in there because I was struggling.”

Injury report

Left guard Jamon Meredith missed practice with a protective boot on his left foot. Meredith injured his ankle in the first quarter against LSU and did not return. USC coach Steve Spurrier was uncertain about the severity of the injury. Tailbacks Brian Maddox (knee), Taylor Rank (shoulder) and Eric Baker, who took a big hit to the head against LSU, all sat out; cornerback C.C. Whitlock was sidelined with a tooth problem.

Extra points

Guard Heath Batchelor is expected to return to the team the week of the Arkansas game, according to Spurrier. Batchelor was suspended last week after missing classes and at least one punitive running session. ... Linebacker Jasper Brinkley, receiver Kenny McKinley and other veteran players “didn’t do much” Tuesday, Spurrier said. The Gamecocks will begin preparing for Tennessee on Thursday before taking the weekend off.

Quote of the day

“I didn’t notice much about it until I saw it again yesterday. It did look like he gave him a forearm, though, didn’t it? I don’t think he was trying to do it. Stephen just sort of ran into him. He was trying to get out of the way.” — Spurrier on umpire Wilbur Hackett Jr.’s collision with quarterback Stephen Garcia vs. LSU

— Joseph Person