Why QB Michael Scarnecchia got first-team work in Gamecocks’ final scrimmage

South Carolina football coach Will Muschamp through the offseason has displayed confidence Michael Scarnecchia will be his team’s No. 2 quarterback behind Jake Bentley.

That didn’t change after Saturday’s scrimmage.

“There’s no question,” Muschamp said of his status as the backup. “We can win with him.”

What did change a little was the situation he was used in during part of the final scrimmage. Most football coaches strive to find uncomfortable but realistic spots in which to put their players in practice.

“I gave him some reps with the first group purposely in the middle of a series to put him in the game,” Muschamp said. “He responded extremely well.”

The senior from Florida has come through a lot in his career at USC. A hand-picked recruit by Steve Spurrier, he’s seen action in only three games, throwing one pass (a completion). He missed a year with injury, redshirted another and has already graduated with his finance degree.

At the end of fall he’ll likely be off to other pursuits,but for now, Muschamp is trusting him with a big role.

“I’ve said before, the first year, Mike had that shoulder injury, didn’t play much at all,” Muschamp said. “And then obviously last year, the game continued to slow down for him and I think he has a really good command of where we are.”

The coach also updated the status of mobile freshman passers Jay Urich and Dakereon Joyner. The pair has been competing for the No. 3 job, with Urich getting those snaps at some points in camp.

“Both of those guys showed some things athletically today that we know they have,” Muschamp said. “We’ve got to continue to advance their throwing game.”

This story was originally published August 18, 2018 at 5:30 PM.