Notebook: USC’s QB battle could continue into season

Connor Mitch’s slight separation in the quarterback race Saturday didn’t survive long.

“Right after the scrimmage, I thought Connor Mitch had played a little bit better, but after watching the tape, they were all very close,” South Carolina coach Stever Spurrier said Sunday. “They were all very similar statistically, like they have been. Spring practice until now, they are statistically very close.”

So, it’s back to square one now in trying to decide between Mitch, junior Perry Orth and freshmen Michael Scarnecchia and Lorenzo Nunez.

“It’ll work its way out,” Spurrier said. “We’ll keep scrimmaging and keep letting those guys play a little bit more and see what happens.”

And if it’s still too close to call on Sept. 3, when the Gamecocks open the season against North Carolina?

“Oh, probably coin flip,” Spurrier said. “Nah, just kidding.

“If they are all very even, we might say, ‘You’re going to play the first two series, you’re going to play a couple. We’ll see what happens.’ You have to watch players in real action.”

Safety valve

Spurrier continues to like what he sees from his defense in practices.

“A safety is back there most every play,” Spurrier said. “We don’t have any of those funny coverages where there is nobody back there. Guys are really understanding their assignments and their roles. We had very few mental mistakes in the scrimmage yesterday by the defense.”

Injury update

Wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (hand, knee) will sit out practice “another two or three days,” Spurrier said. Cooper injured his hand on the first day of fall camp and then suffered a knee bruise.

“He’s not hurt seriously, but with him out, it’s a bunch of players who haven’t caught many passes,” Spurrier said.

Starting weakside linebacker Jonathan Walton also will be out longer. Walton missed most of the first week due to a sprained knee. He expects to sit out “a few more days,” he said.

“I stepped on it wrong. I am just taking it easy to be sure of things, not trying to overdo it,” he said. “I am doing rehab two or three times a day.”

Junior Gerald Dixon, last year’s starter at defensive end, still hasn’t practiced due to a leg injury, and defensive line coach Deke Adams isn’t sure when Dixon will return.

“I think he’ll be ready (for the season),” Adams said. “I don’t get into trying to decide on when he’s going to be back. When they say he’s healthy, we will put him back in the mix and give him an opportunity just like everybody else.”

Getting comfortable

Toure Boyd, who was delayed almost a week by an NCAA Clearinghouse issue, got on the field for the first time in Saturday’s practice. Now, he’s eager to finish his required acclimatization period so he can participate fully beginning Thursday.

“I am really just learning the terminology of the system,” he said. “I know the coverages. I just have to learn what they call it, and I’ll be good.”

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound junior college transfer, worked at nickel back on his first day but has been told to learn both safety positions.

“I feel like I can play any position in the defensive backfield,” he said. “Anything they need me at, I am going to try to excel at that.”

Is it time?

Senior Cedrick Cooper was with the first-team defense during Saturday’s scrimmage and looks like he may be ready to contribute.

“Cedrick Cooper has done a really good job,” Adams said. “I am really pleased with the strides he has had. I just want to keep him healthy. I think he’ll definitely help us.”

Cooper (6-foot-2, 248 pounds) has 11 tackles in three seasons.

This story was originally published August 9, 2015 at 4:29 PM with the headline "Notebook: USC’s QB battle could continue into season."