Updates from the 2021 South Carolina spring game: Jason Brown to EJ Jenkins
Below are our in-game updates from Sunday at Williams-Brice Stadium and team’s annual Garnet and Black spring game. The State’s Ben Portnoy and Greg Hadley were at Williams-Brice to bring you updates.
Situational work
In the second half of Sunday’s scrimmage, the Gamecocks focused on situational work, running third down, goal line and red zone competitions.
On third downs, first-team quarterback Luke Doty found receiver Dakereon Joyner on third and 10 over the middle as he got behind the secondary. On five other third down scenarios ranging all the way to third and 2, though, the defense managed to come up with a stop.
Quarterback Jason Brown finds E.J. Jenkins for touchdown
Former teammates at FCS school St. Francis in Pennsylvania, quarterback Jason Brown and wide receiver E.J. Jenkins connected on an 11-yard passing touchdown for the second-team offense late in the second quarter. The 6-foot-7 Jenkins reeled in the Brown throw in the corner of the end zone. Brown, a senior transfer, also completed the longest pass of the day for the Gamecocks — a 27-yard strike to tight end Keveon Mullins.
Tight end Jaheim Bell scores touchdown — as running back
With the Gamecocks thin at running back due to the absences of Kevin Harris and MarShawn Lloyd, USC has utlized sophomore tight end Jaheim Bell as a tailback and fullback throughout the spring game. Bell has rushed for 39 yards on five carries, while also catching a Doty pass for seven yards. He scored the first-team offense’s second touchdown, on a two-yard run.
Wide receiver greats in the building
Former South Carolina star wideouts Deebo Samuel and Shi Smith were shown on the video board at the end of the first quarter — Samuel is now with the San Francisco 49ers, while Smith is expected to be selected in this week’s NFL Draft.
Second-team offense scores field goal after fumble
After clicking on a strong opening drive, quarterback Luke Doty and running back ZaQuandre White miscommunicated on a handoff late in the first quarter, leading to a fumble that defensive lineman Zacch Pickens recovered.
On the next drive, freshman quarterback Colten Gauthier and the second-team offense advanced the ball just enough to set up a 47-yard field goal for Mitch Jeter.
ZaQuandre White scores first Gamecocks TD
In the first drive of USC’s modified spring game, the first-team Gamecocks offense leaned on redshirt senior running back ZaQuandre White, who rushed for 31 yards on four carries against the first-team defense and scored on a one-yard rush. Quarterback Luke Doty completed two passes for 12 yards.
Format
Shane Beamer had originally planned to split the roster in two and play a scrimmage with both sides having an offense and defense. Limited numbers, especially on defense, appear to have changed that plan — there appeared to only be 30 defensive players dressed to play.
The first half of the game will be mostly offense vs. defense, with some special teams work between 12-minute quarters. The second half will consist of more situational work
20 Gamecocks not in pads for pregame warmups
Head coach Shane Beamer said earlier this week South Carolina was dealing with limited numbers in practice in recent days. Ahead of Sunday’s spring game, 20 players weren’t dressed for warmups. They include:
- RB MarShawn Lloyd
- WR Sam Reynolds
- EDGE Jordan Strachan
- WR Ahmarean Brown
- WR Randrecous Davis
- DB Joey Hunter
- EDGE Aaron Sterling
- WR Xavier Legette
- RB Kevin Harris
- RB Bruce Staley
- RB Rashad Amos
- DB Darius Rush
- LB Mohamed Kaba
- LB Sherrod Greene
- LB Spencer Eason-Riddle
- DB James Bartholomew
- OL Jakai Moore
- EDGE Gilber Edmond
- WR Mike Wyman
- TE Jesse Sanders
Kevin Harris, Darius Rush likely out for spring game
Starting running back Kevin Harris appears to be out for Sunday’s spring game. Harris headed onto the field in shorts and a jersey, rather than pads during pregame warmups.
Head coach Shane Beamer said earlier in the week Harris was dealing with a handful of minor injuries and had been limited in practice on Tuesday. Beamer was hopeful Harris would play this weekend.
Junior defensive back Darius Rush was also spotted in shorts and a jersey pregame. It does not appear he will play in Sunday’s spring game.
Garnet and Black end zones, uniform report
As they have in previous years, the grounds crew painted one end zone garnet and the other black, with coordinating colors on the sideline. The look has earned some praise on social media, with fans recommending the team keep it into the fall.
When the Gamecocks arrived for warmups, offensive players were sporting white uniforms with black pants, while defensive players were in garnet uniforms and pants. All players were wearing white helmets with no logos.
Early crowd starts trickling in
With an hour to go before kickoff, the first groups of fans started entering the stadium — capacity is limited to 15,000 due to COVID-19 protocols, a number that was actually expanded from the previously announced figure of 9,000. Seating is general admission, with stickers on seats directing where fans are supposed to sit to maintain social distancing.
Gamecock Walk
New coach Shane Beamer got his first taste of the traditional “Gamecock Walk” before the game, walking from the team’s operations facility across Gamecock Park and into the stadium, where a collection of fans were on hand to welcome him.
This story was originally published April 25, 2021 at 1:11 PM.