Observations from South Carolina’s Thursday spring football practice
South Carolina’s football team was back on the practice field Thursday for the fifth time this spring.
The music, eclectic as ever, was blaring. Recruits and parents and high school coaches roamed the sideline. And, per usual, tight ends coach Shawn Elliott was one of about a half-dozen folks in shorts.
The Gamecocks are in full pads at this stage of spring practice. Media members were allowed to observe the first six periods Thursday, or about 30 minutes. Here are some observations:
SLIGHT OFFENSIVE LINE CHANGE
There’s going to be constant shakeup on the offensive line over the next few weeks. Spring is about experimentation, about trying new positions, new combinations and seeing what fits.
During the Gamecocks’ first spring practice last Tuesday, we observed the first-team offensive line as: Jakai Moore (LT), Markee Anderson (LG), Vershon Lee (C), Trovon Baugh (RG) and Cason Henry (RT).
On Thursday, the first-team offensive line hardly changed. The only flip was at right tackle, where FAU transfer Kamaar Bell was taking the first-team reps instead of Anderson, who missed all of last season due to injury.
One other note from Thursday: We did not see five-star freshman Josiah Thompson in attendance. It’s probably nothing — a USC spokesperson wasn’t aware of it and didn’t have additional information — but definitely something to monitor.
A NYCK HARBOR SIGHTING
The Gamecocks had a special visitor on Thursday. Well kind-of.
Sophomore wide receiver Nyck Harbor was roaming the practice field in gray sweats and a Washington Commanders beanie, chatting with Shane Beamer and others.
Harbor is not participating in spring practice, but instead running track for the Gamecocks. Last week during an outdoor meet, Harbor clocked a collegiate personal-best time of 10.16 second in the 100 meters.
When pictures of Harbor went around social media on Thursday morning, most people had the same reaction — Harbor looks way slimmer. And they’re not wrong.
A few months ago, Harbor spoke with The State and said he wanted to slim down to 225 pounds (he played his freshman football season at 245 pounds) for track, but then keep that frame for football, too.
OTHER NEWS AND NOTES
We observed just one team period, a third-down drill between the full offense and defense. The defense won all three plays.
Auburn transfer Robby Ashford didn’t get a rep in that drill. Instead, LaNorris Sellers was in for the first play, Luke Doty for the second and Davis Beville for the third. Something to keep an eye on.
In the Gamecocks’ opening spring practice last week, Doty didn’t rep at QB while the media was present, instead working at receiver and kick returner.
“Everybody is getting reps,” Beamer said Tuesday. “The things that’s helping us, too, is because we have pretty much our entire team here right now, except for three scholarship freshmen and some walk-ons, we’re able to set these pratices up just like August.”
This story was originally published March 28, 2024 at 11:40 AM.
