Will Muschamp picks out three Gamecocks defenders who jumped ‘off the page’ in spring

South Carolina football’s spring practice was the start of things, but certainly far from the end.

Players will mostly have to prove their mettle in August to lock down big roles, but they can show a little something across the month of March. But that didn’t stop WIll Muschamp from picking out a trio of players who showed him a little something the last time the team took the field.

He pointed out linebacker Ernest Jones and defensive tackles Rick Sandidge and Jabari Ellis as players who made “tremendous strides” in the spring.

Jones didn’t have a spring at all last season, as the early enrollee had a back injury keep him out. He saw his role increase late in the season, and saw a lot more work in spring.

“Ernest Jones. I think his ability to — obviously, one man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity — T.J. (Brunson) not going through spring, I think, really helped Ernest,” Muschamp said. “He had to play the Mike (linebacker). He had to make all the calls and Ernest is really smart.

“I think that was really good for him, to see him step forward like that.”

The coach pointed out the second-year player was tasked with many of the communication responsibilities the staff throws on its middle linebackers and he came through well.

Sandidge came to Columbia as the highest-rated recruit in his class. He was thrown into the fire because of depth issues, a situation Muschamp called a bit unfair.

“His play, from fall to spring practice, was drastically different,” Muschamp said. “As far as his pad-level, consistency in performance.”

Sandidge made 19 tackles last season, 2 1/2 for loss.

And he wasn’t the only lineman Muschamp spoke highly of.

“Jabari Ellis is a guy that I think made huge strides,” Muschamp said.

Ellis didn’t play much early, at least until injuries started to hit South Carolina. He made six tackles with a sack in four games.

“Those would be three that just jump off the page at me,” Muschamp said.

This story was originally published May 1, 2019 at 1:19 PM.