Scrimmage report: Nosovitch works mostly at tight end

Brendan Nosovitch participated in South Carolina’s practice for the second straight day but there has still been no definite declaration of what the redshirt sophomore plans to do.

Nosovitch is trying to decide whether or not to transfer.

“Yeah, hopefully he’s here to stay,” coach Steve Spurrier said after Saturday’s scrimmage. “Hopefully. I think he is.”

Nosovitch took one snap at wildcat quarterback and ran for 9 yards. He also had two reps at tight end.

The other Connor

Redshirt freshman Connor Mitch continues to be the top backup to Dylan Thompson, but third-stringer Perry Orth threw two touchdowns on Saturday. Spurrier said that all of the backups are playing well and while Mitch is the No. 2 right now, there are still nearly three weeks of camp to go.

“They could be co-number twos. Who knows?” Spurrier said. “We have a lot more practice time to hopefully find that second guy.”

Roly-poly

The Gamecocks’ centers had an adventurous scrimmage. One bad snap sailed past Mitch and while he corralled the next one, it was high. Michael Scarnecchia pulled down four high snaps.

“We still can’t snap the ball to the quarterback in the shotgun very well,” Spurrier said. “We’ve only got two centers and they played a bunch last year, so we should be a lot better at that.”

Kicked picks

Chaz Elder scored the day’s lone interception but Kadetrix Marcus, Sharrod Golightly and Jordan Diggs each dropped one. Defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward said that can’t happen.

“Got to catch balls,” Ward said. “Jordan Diggs knows he’s got to catch 1,000 balls. The rest of them do, too. We’ve got to be able to get off the field on some third-down situations.”

It could work

Spurrier’s initiative a year ago to get athletes more money may have gotten some help this week when the Ed O’Bannon trial concluded. Spurrier said he liked the idea of $5,000 going to players.

“You can’t use athletes to make millions of dollars and they get nothing,” Spurrier said. “Wait a minute, that’s what we do isn’t it? Some of those down-the-line teams, even though they are in the conferences, they may say, ‘We don’t have that kind of money.’ That’s what they did when they come up with that $2,000 deal and they shelved that.”

Last chance

The Gamecocks will hold one more scrimmage, at 10 a.m. on Aug. 16. It will be open to the public. All other practices are closed.

Fan Appreciation Day

USC’s annual Fan Appreciation Day is at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Colonial Life Arena. The football team and all other fall sports teams will sign autographs. The only item that will be autographed is the schedule poster, which will be available. Injury report

Players who did not practice or wore yellow jerseys were: TE K.C. Crosby (right foot), TE Rory “Busta” Anderson (right tricep), DE Blake McClain (foot), OL Alan Knott (right knee), OL Brock Stadnik (knee), CB D.J. Smith (wisdom teeth), WR Terry Googer (hamstring), DE Michael Washington (back), DE Devin Washington (hamstring), RB David Williams (right knee), CB Ali Groves (hamstring) and OL Donell Stanley (wrist).

Spurrier said Williams should be back at practice next week.

Next

The Gamecocks will take Sunday off and practice at 10 a.m. on Monday. It is closed to the public.

SCORING PLAYS:

Jerell Adams 3 pass from Dylan Thompson (Elliott Fry kick)

Shon Carson 7 run (Landon Ard kick)

Pharoh Cooper 55 pass from Perry Orth (Fry kick)

Tyshun Samuel 15 pass from Orth (no kick)

PASSING:

RUSHING:

RECEIVING:

This story was originally published August 9, 2014 at 2:33 PM with the headline "Scrimmage report: Nosovitch works mostly at tight end."