Three things we've learned
With 11 practices down, South Carolina is just three weeks away from its season opener at Vanderbilt. Here are three things we've learned through the first week and a half of preseason camp.
ALSO SEE: The Insider Report - Gamecocks closing on top DBs? | Practice Insider - Latest on position battles
Turner has the edge at running back
Most presumed that David Williams would start South Carolina's season opener at running back, but that was before Will Muschamp's pointed words about the Gamecocks' redshirt sophomore near the beginning of camp. Muschamp lamented the fact that the coaches have to challenge Williams often in practice and meetings.
Enter A.J. Turner. A redshirt freshman who competed for the starting kickoff return spot last year, Turner steadily climbed the depth chart into the No. 2 spot in the spring and has been working with the 1s all of preseason camp.
“The coaches say they like my effort and my speed,” Turner said. “I’m working on my assignments and knowing where I’m supposed to be and my different techniques. I have to improve on those things. I’m staying after practice to do some extra work.”
Wonnum is the surprise so far
When South Carolina flipped three-star defensive end D.J. Wonnum from Indiana last June, few picked the Stone Mountain (S.C.) Stephenson standout to be the early surprise of the 2016 class. But the 6-foot-4, 240-pound freshman has made headlines early in camp with an early ascension up the BUCK depth chart (Wonnum was working with the 2s during the last open portion of practice).
“For a true freshman, D.J. Wonnum has the mind of a senior,” defensive line coach Lance Thompson said. “He sees the game, he’s natural, he is reactive. We’re all very encouraged and very happy with D.J. Wonnum.”
Offensive line could be a strength
Citing the combined 34 starts returning at the position, Muschamp has made it clear that he has high expectations for the South Carolina offensive line. Frankly, with as much inexperience as South Carolina has at the skill positions, they'll need the line to anchor the offense, especially early in the season.
It's certainly sometimes hard to tell if one side of the ball is doing well or the other is just struggling when a team is practicing against itself, but defensive line coach Lance Thompson has seen plenty of major college football in his day and watches his defensive line butt heads with Shawn Elliott's offensive line every day. His comments should carry weight.
“This is a real deal offensive line," Thompson said. "Those guys are good. D.J. Park, Donell Stanley, Mason Zandi, those guys are real deals. They are big, physical, good kids, all those guys. To me that’s the best thing about our situation right now, is we are competing against a really good SEC offensive line.”
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