Skai Moore could play safety in 2016

Skai Moore, who has been South Carolina’s leading tackler the last three seasons while playing linebacker, will get a chance to play safety in his final season with the Gamecocks.

“When we’re in our regular package, he may be able to play some safety and be able to increase his role as far as playing in space,” first-year head coach Will Muschamp said. “He’s got a pretty wide skill set.”

Muschamp discussed an expanded role with Moore while talking to the Florida native about returning for his senior season. Moore had intended to skip his final season and enter this year’s NFL Draft but changed his mind this week and announced Thursday that he will return to the Gamecocks.

Playing another position could improve Moore’s NFL Draft stock when he does leave South Carolina.

Face Time. Muschamp will be part of ESPN’s Film Room segment on ESPN2 during Monday’s night’s national championship game between Clemson and Alabama. Muschamp will film the segment from the network’s home in Bristol, Conn., and has been told to expect a spot in the pregame, at halftime and again after the game.

Waiting On One. Jeff Dillman, who Muschamp has hired to be South Carolina’s head strength and conditioning coach, will finish the season at Alabama before coming to Columbia, Muschamp said. Dillman is an assistant strength coach with the Crimson Tide.

“He brings a lot of energy, brings a lot of juice to the position,” Muschamp said. “I think the most important hire you make is the strength coach because that guy is with them all year long.”

A Spurrier On Staff. Scott Spurrier, who served as a graduate assistant and then a quality control coordinator on his father Steve’s staff at South Carolina, will remain on Muschamp’s staff as an off-field offensive assistant coach.

Jake Bentley’s Future. Jake Bentley, a four-star quarterback prospect at Opelika High School in Opelika, Ala., may follow his father Bobby and the rest of the Bentley family to the Midlands after the school year. Or, he may not.

Bentley, 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, would be a coveted transfer for most of the area’s high schools, but he may play his final year at Opelika rather than follow his father Bobby, who is leaving his job as an assistant at Auburn to become South Carolina’s running backs coach.

Bobby Bentley was the longtime head coach at Byrnes High School in the Upstate.

“I moved Jake from Byrnes, that was my choice, and we were at Opelika and what a great, great facility, a great program. Now I’m jerking him from that and that’s tough on a young man, so I’m going to let it be his decision,” Bobby Bentley said. “Obviously, it’s going to be a family decision, too, but I want to get Jake’s input on the whole deal so I want to get him up here and let him look at the landscape.”

This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 4:39 PM with the headline "Skai Moore could play safety in 2016."