Gamecock Six Pack: Darrell Shropshire
Defensive tackle Darrell Shropshire, who transferred into USC two springs ago, has become a leader of the Gamecock defense. After a recent preseason practice, we had the opportunity to speak with the senior. Here are six of our questions and Shropshire's answers.
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Two-a-days aren’t like they were in the old days. As a player, do you like that?
I like it because in the past, you have a lot of players, a lot of young guys, a lot of high school guys falling out because of the heat. It gives us an opportunity to get more reps and stay out of the heat, but the whole time, we’re still getting things done. That’s the main thing.
The past couple of days have been very hot. Is this really when you find out who wants to play football?
Right. We’ve just got to continue to push each other and drive on. When September 4th comes around, it may be hot so lets try to encourage each other. It’s the last two-a-day so lets go out and finish out with a good practice.
It seems like you have improved more than anyone else on this team. What did you do to get better this summer?
The main thing was that it was a team effort. I decided that I needed to become a leader and step up to the plate and do what I’ve got to do. I just worked hard. It wasn’t only me. It was my fellow teammates that were in there pushing me. They were pushing me, and I decided in my mind that I needed to become a leader and step up on the field and off the field this year. That’s the only thing that I’m trying to do.
What have you done differently to become a leader?
I became more vocal and doing positive stuff in the weight room. I led during the summer workouts. I was leading groups on team runs and team lifts. Getting vocal on the field and trying to take it up to another level. Running to the ball and just doing the little things that I didn’t do last season.
What can we expect this year from the defensive line under coach Jappy Oliver?
I think it’s going to be a hell-of-fire defensive line. A lot of people are trying to overlook us, but I believe we’ve got the best line in the SEC coming back. You’ve got Moe (Thompson) and George (Gause) who are two of the best defensive ends right now in college football. They’re underrated. Me, myself. They’ve got me underrated. But it’s a team effort. You’ve got Freddy (Saint-Preux) and (Chris) Tucker playing beside me. You’ve got Stanley Doughty, a red shirt freshman, who has improved a lot. It's not what I would have done. It’s what we’re all going to do together to make the defense great.
Still you and Capers inside?
Our depth chart is switching around because we need some defensive linemen on offense. It varies by the day. You’ve just got to throw that out the window. When it’s time for the game, we’ve just got to line up and play ball. You really can’t say on the depth chart because it’s switching so much, but whoever’s out there, they’re going to get the job done.
GamecockCentral.com subscribers: Click here to see what Shropshire has to say about Margue Hall, the highly-touted defensive lineman.
