Five South Carolina redshirts to watch in spring football practice
Last season was the first where college players could play up to four games and still retain redshirt status.
In total, 16 South Carolina football players redshirted during the 2019 season, 13 freshmen and another three veterans. At least two of those older players could easily start, and some of the second-year players should be vying for playing time.
Five of them to watch when spring practice opens Feb. 26:
Cam Smith, CB
He came in as the highest-rated recruit of last year’s four freshman defensive backs, but he ended up playing the least (three games with four defensive snaps). He was unable to enroll early last year, and he looked a bit on the skinny side. He still possesses a high ceiling and South Carolina has seen players whose development was stunted by later arrivals take jumps down the road.
Keveon Mullins
The top wide receiver recruit in the 2019 class, the powerfully-built Memphis product was curiously absent from the rotation as South Carolina’s receiver depth wasn’t there with injuries and inconsistency. Now he’s a tight end. He’s still a well-built target (6-foot-1, 220 pounds) who posted more than 1,000 yards as a senior in high school. The Gamecocks need help at that position in a big way, and this would be his chance to step up.
Joseph Anderson
Another four-star who didn’t hold a prominent role last season, the defensive lineman was the highest rated member of the class to redshirt. At 6-foot-3, 280 pounds, he could be an option either on the inside or outside and possesses some explosiveness. (Linemen also take some time to develop). In terms of playing time, he’s battling a lot of bodies either at the bigger end spot (with returning contributors Aaron Sterling, Kingsley Enagbare) or at tackle (many, many options). If he can play up to his recruiting ranking, he’ll find a spot.
Traevon Kenion
Another player whose offseason was truncated by enrollment issues, the USC tight end had the double whammy of also missing a large chunk of practice in August. (He also had to work off some weight gained before enrolling halfway through spring semester). Kenion is an interesting prospect because he was a highly productive pass catcher as a high school senior, with 38 receptions for 746 yards and 14 touchdowns in a run-based offense. He has solid size at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds. South Carolina lacks depth at the position, and projected starter Nick Muse will be out all spring with a torn ACL.
Brad Johnson
A later-career redshirt, Johnson missed most of the year with a groin injury. He’s also in line to start at the Buck position, as the top two players at the spot, D.J. Wonnum and Daniel Fennell, graduated. Johnson has been solid at times in his career but needs to deliver more if he becomes the team’s top edge rusher. How healthy he is will be important for USC. The team also gets 25-game starter Keir Thomas back, likely to shore up the defensive interior. (Thomas can play end, but that position seems stocked at the moment).
Also worth watching
Buck defensive end Rodricus Fitten (for now he looks to be in line for a backup spot after playing sparingly last year) and center Vincent Murphy (he could easily be in the mix for a starting spot).
This story was originally published February 19, 2020 at 1:22 PM.
