Latest Gamecocks spring practice offers hints for in-progress depth chart
South Carolina was back on the practice field Thursday for the seventh time this spring, gearing up for the Garnet and Black Game on April 18.
Here are a few observations:
▪ Coach Shane Beamer said this week that a lot of outsiders are “eager to anoint” a backup quarterback. Of course they are.
When a former Ohio State QB — Air Noland — winds up at South Carolina without any baggage, of course he’s the front-runner to be the backup behind LaNorris Sellers. But Beamer wants competition — and, for sure, Noland has to earn his place. On Thursday, it was redshirt freshman QB Dante Reno as the backup QB during the portion of practice that was open to the media.
▪ We got a good look at the offensive line And while it’s still extremely early for any sort of predictions, this is how the depth chart shook out on Thursday.
- LT: 1st team- Josiah Thompason // 2nd team- Jakai Moore // 3rd team- Campbell Vandiver
- LG: 1st team- Tree Babalade // 2nd team- Shedrick Sarratt Jr. // 3rd team- Mac Walters
- C: 1st team- Boaz Stanley // 2nd team- Rodney Newsome Jr. // 3rd team- Chase Sweigart
- RG: 1st team- Trovon Baugh // 2nd team- Markee Anderson // 3rd team- Blake Franks
- RT: 1st team- Cason Henry // 2nd team- Jatavius Shivers // 3rd team- Kam Pringle
▪ Junior college defensive line transfer Zavion Hardy seemed to be struggling stamina-wise early in Thursday’s practice.
As he was hitting the sled, D-line coach Travian Robertson could tell Hardy was tired — “Fight through that s---!” Robertson yelled. Hardy finished the rep and bent down for a while, seemingly trying to catch his breath. The transition from JUCO to the SEC can take time and Robertson admitted this week that USC is going to have to “coach him up.”
▪ Athletic director Jeremiah Donati was at practice on Thursday, likely just a day before he heads to watch the women’s basketball team in the Final Four. He was speaking for a while with Shane Beamer and, later, former USC QB and current play-by-play voice Todd Ellis.
▪ This was the first practice we’ve seen where no one was in a blue non-contact jersey — though that comes just days after Beamer said OL Nick Sharpe and DL Jaylen Brown will miss the rest of spring with injuries.
