Practice report: Googer pressing for starting receiver role

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said Carlton Heard likely would be the third receiver behind Pharoh Cooper and Deebo Samuel if the Gamecocks were playing today, but Terry Googer isn’t ready to concede the spot just yet.

Googer, a redshirt freshman, has about a week and a half left to prove that he should be starting when USC faces North Carolina in Charlotte. He can help himself by performing well in Saturday’s scrimmage.

“I’m going to do what I do every day and try to prove to coach that I’m capable of playing, I’m capable of starting the UNC game. And we’ll see what happens from there,” he said after Friday’s practice. “Every day is another day to prove to Coach that I’m capable of playing and starting.”

In addition to catching passes, Googer also could throw some passes. The Atlanta native played quarterback in high school and said he could be involved in a couple of trick plays this season.

“They’ve put me in for a couple of trick passes and whatnot,” he said. “I threw it pretty well, so we’ll see, but I don’t think they’re going to move me to quarterback anytime soon.”

QUARTERBACKS EVEN

Spurrier said all of the quarterbacks were even during Friday’s practice. He anticipates each receiving close to equal snaps during Saturday’s scrimmage.

“Everybody had their moments, good and bad,” he said. “Hopefully there will be some good tomorrow. They’ll all play a little bit.”

ANTICIPATION

USC’s players are becoming tired of facing each other in practice every day and are ready for Sept. 3. Googer said the Gamecocks are anxious to begin game planning for North Carolina.

“All of the players have been asking coach when we’re going to start the game plan for North Carolina,” he said. “We’re very fired up about the game, tired of hitting each other. We’re ready to hit somebody else now.”

NEW ADDITIONS

The Gamecocks added four walk-ons to the roster after school began Thursday. Freshman long snapper Logan Crane (No. 59, 6-foot-3, 212 pounds) is from Dartmouth, Mass.; redshirt freshman quarterback Danny Gordon (No. 18, 6-0, 203) is from Worthington, Ohio, and attended Miami of Ohio last year; redshirt freshman strong safety Scott Grant (No. 34, 5-10, 178) is from Laurens; and freshman free safety Jason Senn (No. 40, 5-8, 181) is from Beaufort.

JERSEY CHANGE

Heard, a senior, has changed jersey numbers from No. 83 to No. 17.

INJURY REPORT

Players who were injured or wore yellow jerseys Friday: TE Connor Redmond (back), PK Joseph Charlton (back), QB Gage Pucci (knee) and SS Antoine Wilder (right knee sprain).

This story was originally published August 21, 2015 at 6:45 PM.