Spencer Rattler debut, new jersey numbers and other Day 1 spring practice observations

South Carolina football is back.

The Gamecocks opened spring practice on Tuesday morning as the second year of the Shane Beamer era began in earnest.

Here’s a look at all the action from the portion of the session open to reporters:

• Media members got their first look at former Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler in a Gamecocks uniform. Rattler threw passes with the first team during Tuesday’s session and connected with Jaheim Bell on a handful of throws during red zone drills. The ex-Sooner is expected to be QB1 in Columbia this year.

• Behind Rattler, freshman Braden Davis ran with the No. 2 offense. Third-year signal-caller Luke Doty was also a full participant in the portion of practice open to reporters. Doty was the starting quarterback heading into the 2021 season before a foot injury during fall practice sidelined him for most of August and the first two games of the year. Davis arrives at South Carolina as a midyear enrollee after a standout high school career in Delaware. He was rated a three-star recruit and the No. 385 player and No. 23 quarterback in the 2022 class, per the 247Sports Composite.

• Tuesday offered the first look at a handful of new jersey numbers for South Carolina’s quarterbacks. Doty (9) and Colten Gauthier (4) changed numbers, while Rattler (7) and Davis (11) received their first practice uniforms since joining the Gamecocks. Receiver Ahmarean Brown, who wore No. 7 last year, is now No. 10.

• Other new jersey numbers included: Antwane Wells Jr. (3), Terrell Dawkins (4), Christian Beal-Smith (8), Devonni Reed (8), Anthony Rose (12), Lovasea Carroll (14), Donovan Westmoreland (15), Felix Hixon (50), Jamaal Whyce (54) and D’Andre Martin (99).
  
  

• South Carolina rolled out what, at least for now, looks like its starting offensive line. Jaylen Nichols and Tyshawn Wannamaker worked at the left and right tackle spots, respectively. Vershon Lee started at left guard, while Jovaughn Gwyn was at right guard. Sixth-year center Eric Douglas also ran with the first group.

• Offensive tackle Dylan Wonnum worked in the indoor practice facility during the early portion of practice. Wonnum is recovering from a back injury that sidelined him late in the 2021 season. It’s expected he’ll contribute once healthy.

• Duke’s Mayo Bowl hero Dakereon Joyner looked to be back at receiver full-time after starting at quarterback in South Carolina’s win over North Carolina on Dec. 30. Joyner completed all nine of his passes for 160 yards and a touchdown and added another 64 yards on 10 rushes in the bowl victory.

• Graduate assistant-turned starting quarterback Zeb Noland was back in a coaching role during Tuesday’s session. Noland was added to the roster in the wake of Doty’s foot injury last fall. He guided the Gamecocks to wins over Eastern Illinois and East Carolina during his brief playing career at South Carolina. Noland is now back on the coaching staff as a graduate assistant working with the quarterbacks.

• Gamecocks linebacker Sherrod Greene worked through drills without any visible brace as returns from a severe ankle injury that ended his 2021 season in Week 3 at Georgia. It’s anticipated Greene will be a key cog at linebacker should he return to full health.

• E.J. Jenkins continued to practice with the receivers on Tuesday. The former St. Francis tight end was listed as a receiver partway through last season after splitting time at both positions during his first spring in Columbia.

• Receivers Josh Vann, Trey Adkins and Brown each caught punts during the early parts of Tuesday’s open session. Vann served as the primary punt returner during the 2021 season. Vann was South Carolina’s leading receiver last fall and is expected to anchor the Gamecocks’ pass-catchers again in 2022.

• Former South Carolina standout and newly hired defensive analyst DeVonte Holloman was at Tuesday’s practice. Holloman spent time speaking with fellow analyst and USC alum Patrick DiMarco, then observed defensive line coach Sterling Lucas and the Gamecocks’ edge rushers.
  
  

• Receiver Jalen Brooks was not at practice on Tuesday. The former Wingate and Tarleton State product was also removed from South Carolina’s updated spring roster. He’s been away from the team since Oct. 9 at Tennessee.

This story was originally published March 15, 2022 at 11:12 AM.

Ben Portnoy

The State

Ben Portnoy is The State’s South Carolina Gamecocks football beat writer. He’s a 10-time Associated Press Sports Editors award honoree and has earned recognition from the Mississippi Press Association and the National Sports Media Association. Portnoy previously covered Mississippi State for the Columbus Commercial Dispatch and Indiana football for the Journal Gazette in Ft. Wayne, IN.