Joyner takes first-team reps Tuesday

With Jake Bentley still limited in practice, the Gamecocks are putting together contingency plans just in case Bentley, who’s started the team’s last 24 games, can’t go.

That starts with Michael Scarnecchia, who is the team’s backup, and then moves to Dakereon Joyner, who took first team snaps Tuesday in practice.

“He got some snaps today with the first group and obviously is a guy that continues to progress well,” Will Muschamp said, “and we’ll see how it goes.”

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Bentley, who has been nursing a knee injury since the Kentucky game, has been limited in what he can do. Muschamp said the junior is still a little sore, but is probable for Saturday’s game against Missouri.

If Bentley can’t play, it’ll be Scarnecchia taking the reigns of the offense, and Muschamp said there won’t be any sort of drop off in what the Gamecocks feel like they can do offensively with Scarnecchia in the game.

Scarnecchia is 7-for-12 on the year with 89 yards and a touchdown pass, including going 4-for-6 for 45 yards after coming in for Bentley against Kentucky.

“I think Mike throws the ball extremely well, but he just hasn’t been exposed to that many opportunities,” Muschamp said. “We have confidence in Mike. As far as administering and running an offense, there won’t be a lot of change in who we are when Mike’s in the game.”

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After that is Joyner, who Muschamp said was the team’s third-string quarterback behind Bentley and Scarnecchia.

Like most freshmen, he’s been a work in progress since enrolling in January, continuing to develop while running mostly with the scout team before this week.

Quarterbacks coach Dan Werner said before the season started he wouldn’t rule out a package with Joyner in the game, but since the season started it hasn’t been showcased on the field.

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Joyner hasn’t played in any of South Carolina’s four games yet and can play up to four games this year without burning his redshirt.

If Joyner does play Saturday, it’ll be his first action of the year. Muschamp said the Gamecocks will tailor the offense when he’s in the game to what he can do offensively.

Joyner was a dual-threat quarterback coming out of Fort Dorchester in Charleston, accounting for almost 3,500 yards of offense his senior season.

“We’re going to call the things that they can handle and not just throw the whole playbook at them,” Muschamp said. “I would say there are things Dakereon does extremely well. When he’s in there, those are the plays we’ll call.”

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