HOOVER – A new quarterback and a new defensive game-changer have to come to the forefront at South Carolina now that Connor Shaw and Jadeveon Clowney are not in Columbia anymore. So now in steps senior quarterback Dylan Thompson. The other guy remains to be seen on defense.
No one can expect for someone to step in and become Clowney. Who can really count on a new defensive wrecking force, a year after the other was drafted first overall?
This being the case, always-interesting Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier says that some things will definitely be different in life after Clowney.
“Well, the other team won’t have to change their offense when they play us,” Spurrier said. “They’ll just say treat those defensive ends like everyone else, so that will probably be helpful for them.”
Spurrier continued on by saying that they are confident in some young defensive ends. One name that he singled out is sophomore Darius English.
The Gamecocks coach does admit that it is hard to say goodbye to Clowney, but another player meant a lot to his program as well.
“We know we’ve got to live without Clowney and we had to live without (running back) Marcus Lattimore,” Spurrier said. “Now we’ve got to live without Connor Shaw. (He was the) winningest quarterback in school history and never lost a home game. What he did there was remarkable. We’re replacing some really superstar players there.”
These comments lead right into talking about the newest signal caller for South Carolina, that is Thompson. He had his chance to speak at SEC Media Days and knows the lofty expectations that Shaw leaves for him.
“Obviously, Connor isn’t here,” Thompson said. “But, it’s been fun in the offseason leading the guys and having other guys lead.”
Thompson says that left tackle Corey Robinson and strong safety Brison Williams have also helped lead the team this offseason.
South Carolina might have a new starting quarterback this season. However, there is a plethora of returning talent at the skill positions of running back, wide receiver and tight end. Plus he’s got four out of five offensive linemen returning.
“We’ll work out in the morning and our offensive line is in their grinding,” Thompson said. “Just seeing that, knowing that the guys care about what they do and knowing they want to be great themselves is something that’s really encouraging.”
One of those huge players coming back in the skill positions is running back Mike Davis. The Gamecocks get him back, following a 1100-yard season in 2013. Not to be forgotten is the more than 350 yards of receiving yards he picked up. All total Davis found the endzone 11 times during the year. Thompson definitely has no problem with him coming back this season.
“It does take some pressure off (you) when you have a solid running game,” Thompson said. “But I do think it starts with that offensive line being able to start that and we have a great one up front. I think will have a great year.”
It cannot be SEC Media Day’s without the “Ol’ Ball Coach” stealing the show with some awesome quotes. For example, Spurrier was asked about what is it about his famous one liners? Are they premeditated or do they just flow freely? His answer is very much him.
“Kacey Musgraves has got that song ‘Blowing Smoke’ and I like that song,” Spurrier said. “All of you know that song? It goes on about smoking cigarettes, ‘we all say we’ll quit someday, but we’re just blowing smoke.’”
Spurrier also points back to the quote that made him even more loved in Georgia (sarcasm), about playing them early in the year with some Bulldogs suspended.
“The week of the game no one even brought it up,” Spurrier said. “Of course they asked the athletic director Greg McGarity if he was upset that Spurrier said that. He said, ‘How can I be upset when it’s the truth (laughter)?’”
Spurrier and the Gamecocks will get Georgia in Week 3 of the season on Sept. 13 in Columbia. It will be interesting to see if the Bulldogs do indeed have players missing that game for off-field infractions.
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