Rico Dowdle on track to take 1st tailback snaps vs. NC State

Sophomore running back Rico Dowdle, who had 764 yards on 133 carries last year, will likely start Saturday for South Carolina, Gamecocks head coach Will Muschamp said Tuesday.

Dowdle competed with sophomore A.J. Turner and North Carolina transfer Ty’Son Williams during preseason camp for the starting job.

“All three guys deserve to start, to be honest with you,” Muschamp said.

Turner is expected to enter the game on the third series, and Williams will play as well against N.C. State on Saturday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., Muschamp said.

“Whoever has the hot hand is going to carry us,” Muschamp said. “All three guys deserve to play.”

Notes

▪  Wide receiver Randrecous Davis and cornerback Tavyn Jackson won’t play in the game. Safety Steven Montac should be available.

▪  One starting spot that has not been decided is place-kicker where freshmen Alex Woznick and Parker White are competing to take the first kick. “I’ve got a lot of confidence in both Alex and Parker,” Muschamp said. “Both of those guys are capable of doing a good job for us.”

▪  Freshman QB Jay Urich will travel Saturday. He or walk-on Danny Gordon would be the third quarterback, Muschamp said.

This story was originally published August 29, 2017 at 1:19 PM with the headline "Rico Dowdle on track to take 1st tailback snaps vs. NC State."