CIS: Camper, Elder in; Boyd out; Samuel, Edwards game time decisions
Gamecock players are coming and going - and some are up in the air - at a rapid pace with Saturday’s 4 p.m. home game against Texas A&M less than 48 hours away.
Coming: Offensive lineman Blake Camper, who missed the last two games because of a high ankle sprain, was thought to be sidelined until after the bye week (Oct. 15), but his recovery is ahead of schedule and should be ready to play in Saturday’s game, if not start, against the Aggies. He could start at right tackle. Donell Stanley, the other offensive lineman currently shelved due to a high ankle sprain, should return after the bye week.
"Blake played extremely well for us when he was healthy earlier in the year," Muschamp said, adding Malik Young could get playing time on Saturday. “It’s great to get him back.”
Additionally, safety Chaz Elder is slated to return to action after practicing this week, and should provide the secondary with a much-needed boost.
“He had non-contact on Tuesday and contact on Wednesday and today,” Muschamp said. “He will play in the game.”
True freshman running back Rico Dowdle, sidelined for about two months since undergoing sports hernia surgery shortly before the start of preseason camp, should make his Gamecock debut Saturday on special teams, and possibly running back as well “depending on how things go.”
Going: Junior defensive back Toure Boyd, a JUCO transfer with two years of eligibility heading into this season, has left the program and will transfer. Even though his arrival before last season was heralded, Boyd was mostly a non-factor in his 16-game career with the Gamecocks. He was hampered an ankle injury in 2015 and appeared in just one game. This season, he had one tackle in three games.
“We have decided to part ways and he will transfer to another school,” Muschamp said.
Day-to-day: Wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Bryan Edwards are both described by Muschamp as game-time decisions because of injures heading into the Texas A&M game. Their absence would deal USC’s passing attack a severe blow with freshman Randrecous Davis already out.
“We’ve had a hard time developing any continuity in the throwing game,” Muschamp said. “That’s what has been hard.”
Muschamp reiterated true freshman Brandon McIlwain will remain the Gamecocks' starting quarterback despite USC’s struggles moving the football at Kentucky.
“He has administered things well at the line of scrimmage,” Muschamp said. “Sure, there are plays he’d like to have back. He would be the first one to tell you that. Again, we’re a work in progress there. Brandon is a guy we’re excited about. He played extremely well in his first home game. We’re looking forward to him playing well on Saturday. It’s Brandon’s game.”
“The quick game is very important to us and Brandon throws it extremely well. A lot of those are off RPOs (Run-Pass Options). He has been very successful throwing those routes. It’s something we will continue to do. Texas A&M has big receivers and they do a nice job in the quick game as well.”
Because of the shortage of receivers, freshman walk-on Javon Charleston has returned to that position from defensive back.
“Getting Chaz Elder back at safety created an opportunity for Javon to go back to receiver,” Muschamp said. “He is going to play in the game. We’re very thin at the position at this time.”
NOTES:
-- Muschamp said he spoke with the Gamecocks about improving their “mental intensity.” Muschamp said teams with mental intensity have greater focus and confidence. “We have to progress better than we have, and that was the disappointing thing about (the Kentucky game),” Muschamp said. “It’s not about effort. It’s about making good decisions on the field. We are not an explosive enough team on either side of the ball to overcome a lot of self-inflicted wounds. Our guys understand that.”
-- Texas A&M has exceptional skill position players and will try to create “space plays”, requiring the Gamecocks to tackle in space and win some one-on-one battles, Muschamp said. If they don’t Texas A&M will keep piling up explosive plays, which they have done on a regular basis this season.
-- Muschamp said the Gamecocks have “a bunch” of prospects scheduled to attend Saturday’s game. “One of the many selling points we have at South Carolina is our game day atmosphere,” Muschamp said. “It was a wonderful experience for the young guys that came to the East Carolina game.”
-- Opponents are averaging 33:34 in time of possession compared to 26:26 for the Gamecocks. Overall, opponents have run 50 more plays (250-300) than the Gamecocks in the first four games, an average of 12.5 plays per game. However, Muschamp said fatigue has not been a factor as USC is rotating 10-12 defensive linemen, playing 4 linebackers and rotating “as much as we can” in the secondary.
-- Perhaps the biggest reason for the opponents’ significant advantage in TOP, Muschamp said, has been the Gamecocks’ inconsistency in converting third downs. USC ranks 13th in the SEC with a third down conversion percentage of 31.0 percent (18-58). In the last two games (vs. ECU, at UK), the Gamecocks are just 6-of-25 (24.0 pct.) on third downs. That number must improve, Muschamp said. “We have to stay on the field more. In the last two ballgames we have not done that,” he said.
-- The Gamecocks have just four available cornerbacks heading into the Texas A&M game – Chris Lammons, Jamarcus King, Rashad Fenton and Steven Montac. “Our cornerbacks have improved their physicality, which is something that needed to happen,” Muschamp said. “I’m proud how those guys have responded to our challenge to do some of the things defensively we have to do like manning up more outside and denying the ball defensively,” Muschamp said.
-- Muschamp said sophomore OL Christian Pellage, who was suspended for the opener following his arrest for DUI this summer, is making good progress through better preparation and better practice habits.
