Five-way QB battle and plenty of other positions to decide for Gamecocks

Coaching changes in SEC football mean many things and one of them is an intense interest in the new guys’ first spring practice.

That’s on the horizon for Will Muschamp, who was hired in December to replace Steve Spurrier as South Carolina’s head coach and will conduct his first practice as Gamecocks coach on March 15. Muschamp replaced all but one of the team’s coaching staff, meaning there are lots of players trying to prove themselves to new coaches.

“We’ll be installing our schemes and identifying playmakers, the people we can count on,” Muschamp said. “The big thing we is to make sure we take care of the fundamentals and don’t get so involved with schematics in the spring. Let’s do a great job being a good fundamental football team.”

The Gamecocks spring game will be April 9 in Williams-Brice Stadium.

Quarterback

Don’t mistake Muschamp’s liberal use of the word “spread” to describe his offense to mean South Carolina wants a running quarterback. New offensive coordinator Kurt Roper would like a quarterback who is mobile but won’t sacrifice the ability to throw the football.

“We use spread principle runs, but we still teach the same passing game we taught Eli (Manning at Ole Miss),” Roper said.

Roper will take a long look at all five scholarship quarterbacks on the roster this spring – Connor Mitch, Brandon McIlwain, Lorenzo Nunez, Perry Orth and Michael Scarnecchia. Mitch, Nunez and Orth have starting experience, while Scarnecchia has limited snaps and McIlwain just arrived from high school.

Spring practice “is going to be huge for everybody,” Roper said.

Mitch most closely fits the Manning mold of pass-first and pass-second quarterback, and the others offer varying degrees of athleticism.

Perry Orth, Sr. 6-0, 196

Connor Mitch, Jr., 6-3, 198

Lorenzo Nunez, So., 6-3, 210

Michael Scarnecchia, So., 6-3, 207

Brandon McIlwain*, Fr., 6-0, 198

Running back

Junior running back David Williams is a known commodity. The redshirt junior averaged 3.5 yards per carry last year in relief of Brandon Wilds and enters the spring as the starter by default. The more interesting evaluations of the spring will center around freshmen Mon Denson, A.J. Turner and C.J. Freeman. Denson and Turner redshirted last year, and Freeman is an early enrollee. Williams has shown the ability to be a solid starter in the right situation, but the Gamecocks need some explosion in the backfield. Denson, Turner and Freeman will get a chance to prove they can provide that.

Darius Paulk, Sr., 5-7, 195

Rod Talley, Jr., 5-9, 200

David Williams, Jr., 6-1, 216

Mon Denson, Fr., 5-10, 220

C.J. Freeman*, Fr., 5-11, 196

A.J. Turner, Fr., 5-10, 186

Tight end

A coaching change can give new life to previously forgotten players, and Kevin Crosby could be the biggest winner in that sweepstakes this spring. The athletic and versatile Crosby was a four-star prospect three years ago, and he fits the role Roper has traditionally favored for his tight ends. The previous staff considered Kyle Markway a sleeper prospect a year ago. He caught three passes and will have a chance to have a larger role . There’s also 6-foot-6, 258-pound walk-on Jacob August, who caught four passes last year.

Kevin Crosby, So., 6-1, 226

Kyle Markway, So., 6-4, 246

Wide receiver

If it weren’t for the competition at quarterback, this would be the most interesting position group of the spring. The Gamecocks don’t have a receiver with more than 12 career catches on the roster. True sophomore Deebo Samuel (12 catches for 161 yards last year) qualifies as the grizzled veteran of the group. Terry Googer and D.J. Neal also have some experience, but the rest of the group has yet to play a collegiate snap. All eyes will be on early enrollee Bryan Edwards, a four-star prospect and one of the presumed gems of the Muschamp’s first signing class, from Day 1.

Terry Googer, So., 6-4, 216

D.J. Neal, So,. 6-3, 201

Deebo Samuel, So., 6-0, 205

Jalen Christian, Fr., 5-8, 176

Bryan Edwards*, Fr., 6-3 200

Christian Owens, Fr., 6-5, 205

Jerad Washington, Fr., 5-9, 150

Offensive line

It’s time for the young group of offensive lineman who Steve Spurrier spoke so highly of last year to get their shot. The departure of Brandon Shell, Mike Matulis and Will Sport leaves three starting spots up for grabs. Sophomore Zack Bailey is the odds-on favorite to win the open job at guard unless he unseats Alan Knott as the starting center. Wake Forest transfer Cory Helms, a former collegiate starter, also could be tough to keep out of the middle of the offensive line. Young tackles Blake Camper and Christian Pellage will get a chance to start as well. D.J. Park and Donell Stanley need to emerge this spring to avoid being jumped in the pecking order.

Mason Zandi, Sr., 6-8, 303

Cory Helms, Jr., 6-4, 303

Alan Knott, Jr., 6-4, 268

D.J. Park, Jr., 6-4, 323

Zack Bailey, So., 6-6, 326

Blake Camper, So., 6-7, 293

Christian Pellage, So., 6-7, 300

Donell Stanley, So., 6-3, 326

Malik Young, So., 6-4, 298

Trey Derouen, Fr., 6-3, 310

Defensive line

New defensive line coach Lance Thompson is a veteran collegiate assistant, and he’ll need to call on all of that experience this year. The Gamecocks have bodies but have put up back-to-back disappointing seasons on the defensive front, which as much as anything has led to South Carolina’s struggles. The story this spring will be which of the second-year players (think Marquavius Lewis, Boosie Whitlow and Dexter Wideman) can take the step to the next level. Dante Sawyer will miss the spring after having shoulder surgery.

Kelsey Griffin, Sr., 6-2, 302

Abu Lamin, Sr., 6-3, 291

Marquavius Lewis, Sr., 6-4, 254

David Johnson, Sr., 6-1, 250

Ulric Jones, Jr., 6-6, 284

Dante Sawyer, Jr., 6-3, 289

Taylor Stallworth, Jr., 6-2, 302

Boosie Whitlow, So., 6-3, 234

Shameik Blackshear, So., 6-4, 250

Dexter Wideman, Fr., 6-3, 280

Kobe Smith*, Fr., 6-2, 294

Linebacker

The return of Skai Moore is a big boost for the Gamecocks but not necessarily for the linebackers. Part of Muschamp’s recruiting pitch to get Moore to hold off on the NFL one more season was the chance to play more than one position. Expect Moore to get at least a few days at safety during spring practice. There are plenty of players here who have shown potential (Jordan Diggs, T.J. Holloman, Jonathan Walton, Bryson Allen-Williams and Larenz Bryant) but none beyond Moore who have shown enough consistency.

Larenz Bryant, Sr., 6-0, 208

Jordan Diggs, Sr., 6-0, 211

Darius English, Sr., 6-5, 226

T.J. Holloman, Sr., 6-2, 226

Skai Moore, Sr., 6-2, 218

Jonathan Walton, Sr., 6-0, 226

Bryson Allen-Williams, Jr., 6-1, 230

Ernest Hawkins, Jr., 6-1, 224

Sherrod Pittman, Fr., 6-1, 221

Daniel Fennell, Fr., 6-2, 228

Keir Thomas*, Fr. 6-1, 245

Defensive back

It would have been a more interesting spring if cornerback signee Jamarcus King had been able to get to campus in time to compete. There are plenty of players with experience at cornerback, but no one at the position is safe under the new staff. Rashad Fenton has a chance to be a surprise player in the fall but he’ll need a strong spring. At safety, it’s much the same story – a lot of names but not a lot of playmaking experience. Jasper Sasser and D.J. Smith are becoming upperclassmen and the Gamecocks would benefit if they stepped into leadership roles.

Rico McWilliams, Sr., 5-11, 179

Chaz Elder, Sr., 6-2, 203

Chris Lammons, Jr., 5-10, 184

Al Harris Jr., Jr., 5-11, 154

Ali Groves, Jr., 5-10, 185

Jamari Smith, Jr., 5-10, 204

Jasper Sasser, Jr., 6-0, 204

Toure Boyd, Jr., 5-11, 184

D.J. Smith, Jr., 5-11, 185

Rashad Fenton, So., 5-11, 185

Darin Smalls, Fr., 5-11, 185

Antoine Wilder, Fr., 5-10, 187

Chris Smith*, Fr., 5-10, 168

(*Early enrollees)

This story was originally published February 17, 2016 at 12:57 PM.