Gamecocks still finalizing plans for quarterback rotation

South Carolina hasn’t “completely” finalized its quarterback rotation for Saturday’s game against Georgia, but the Gamecocks aren’t ready to tell the Bulldogs or the public any more than that.

“We have a pretty good idea of where we’re headed,” South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp said Tuesday during his regular news conference.

McIlwain started last week’s 24-13 loss to Texas A&M but was replaced by Orth in the fourth quarter.

“Both our guys know the system. I have faith in both our guys to go out there and make plays,” tight end Hayden Hurst said Tuesday. “I go out there and run the routes that (offensive coordinator Kurt) Roper tells me to get open on and both those guys go through their reads and if I’m open, either one of them is going to throw it to me.”

Orth, a senior who started eight games last year, started the first two games of this season. He has completed 58 percent of his passes for 373 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. He has minus-9 rushing yards on eight attempts.

McIlwain, a freshman who enrolled early and participated in spring practice, has started the last three games. He has completed 53 percent of his passes for 567 yards, two touchdowns and one interception and has rushed 52 times for 98 yards.

South Carolina is last in the SEC in yards (301.8 yards per game) and scoring (14 ppg) this year.

“Early in drives we will kind of get behind the eight-ball,” Hurst said. “We will get a negative play here or there that just kills our drives. As long as we can keep the ball moving and get first downs, we can get the ball moving down the field.”

This story was originally published October 4, 2016 at 1:05 PM with the headline "Gamecocks still finalizing plans for quarterback rotation."