Six Gamecock position battles to watch through preseason, starting with the QBs
We don’t yet know exactly what South Carolina’s preseason camp is going to look like and how it will play out. But it’s position battle season nonetheless.
If everything goes to plan, after the next six weeks, those positions up for grabs won’t be — at least for a moment. Someone will separate, get a coveted spot and then have to hold on with play on the field.
Here are some of the most crucial battles, starting at the top position.
Starting quarterback
At times this offseason, this felt as if it wasn’t going to be that big a deal. It appears that feeling was wrong.
Colorado State graduate transfer quarterback Collin Hill has come on strong since getting cleared after a torn ACL. He wasn’t able to even watch an abbreviated spring practice, while former Elite 11 passer and starter Ryan Hilinski looked good.
But Hill still has a massive advantage in knowing and running new offensive coordinator Mike Bobo’s offense, and his arm has looked good in preseason work. It would be a mistake to count anyone out, but Hill is in strong position to chase the spot Hilinski held for most of last season.
No. 2 outside wide receiver
Shi Smith is the most proven option at a position that’s not all that proven. Dakereon Joyner seems like he’s established himself in the slot, and freshman quarterback Luke Doty is also helping there.
But the other outside spot is a curiosity. If things stay the way they seem to have been going, Xavier Legette, a one-time greyshirt candidate, sounds like the leader. He was raw last season, catching only nine balls as his workload rose through the year, but the staff likes his tools and skills.
But former four-stars such as OrTre Smith and Josh Vann are still there, and if Vann’s talent clicks or Smith fully gets back from a run of knee issues, they could be strong contenders. Younger players such as Rico Powers, Ger-Cari Caldwell and Tyquan Johnson should all be options if any take a big step forward.
Safety
Chances are good R.J. Roderick will hold some kind of role, maybe starting, but he has to improve the consistency of his play. Jammie Robinson will be an anchor when the team has only four defensive backs, but he might well slide down to nickel unless the team can find another option there.
Who might those options be? Jaylin Dickerson has promise and has been around the program for a while, but injuries have twice knocked him out for a season. Shilo Sanders is young and split some time with baseball this summer, while Joey Hunter is a true freshman. Linebacker Jahmar Brown also moved back to the position and is adapting to the new role.
At worst the staff needs two reliable options, plus a nickel. Ideally, it has a few more pieces to work with. Corners Jaycee Horn and Israel Mukuamu are options to move to nickel or safety in a pinch, assuming one or more of the young corners come along.
Starting nickel
This links into safety. If there are enough bodies there, Robinson can stay here all the time. But perhaps another option could arise.
Some of the young corners have worked here, including John Dixon. Horn can kick over, as can Mukuamu. The staff wanted to try Roderick here last season, but it didn’t seem to stick. In the end, it might still be Robinson, shifting between here and safety depending how many defensive backs are playing. But maybe something changes.
Center
This situation grew both more simple and more complicated when starting guard Jordan Rhodes chose to opt-out of the 2020 season with coronavirus concerns. His presence was set to allow guard Jovaughn Gwyn to possibly slide over to center if he could master snapping. Instead, a move with Gwyn would likely mean shifting over one of South Carolina’s four most trusted offensive tackles.
But with no Gwyn, the race seems likely to come down to three names. Eric Douglas is a veteran but has yet to assert himself as a starter across three seasons. Hank Manos appeared to be the heir apparent to the position, but a bad opener last season and an injury left him as a backup. Vincent Murphy redshirted last season and was ranked as one of the 10 best centers in his recruiting class.
Douglas and Manos got most of the top-unit work in the abbreviated spring. The team needs someone to step up at the spot, and it’s likely all three will get some kind of look.
Starting Buck
If things go to script, this job probably falls to Brad Johnson. The fourth-year player spent seasons behind D.J. Wonnum. He missed most of last year with an injury, but he knows the scheme inside and out and has some starts under his belt.
But he also lost a good bit of weight across the interruption with the pandemic. He’s down to 235 pounds, and he’s got a big name behind him.
Five-star recruit Jordan Burch is set to start his career at the Buck spot. He’s on the bigger side and has a lot of catch-up to play at a position that has some complexity. But he’s also a high-end talent and often that can carry a player. Rodricus Fitten might also be in the mix and Gilber Edmond projects as a redshirt candidate unless he really shows out in coming weeks.
That said, the battle should be Johnson’s experience against Burch’s talent.
Bonus: Starting tailback
MarShawn Lloyd exited the spring looking like a clear starter, and chances are he ends up there when it’s all said and done. But Zaquandre White will have his say.
The former Florida State player and junior college transfer is a high-end athlete. He’s talented enough where he could play linebacker when the FSU staff moved him there and produce in the ACC despite seemingly not having much interest in playing the position.
Lloyd is the favorite, but White is one to watch.
This story was originally published August 16, 2020 at 5:22 AM.
