Will freshmen lead Gamecocks in passing, rushing and receiving?
Three weeks of preseason camp have brought answers, however hazy they may be, to some of the questions lingering at the outset of August. Others, though, are left unanswered.
Among the most intriguing questions left on the board is this one: Will freshmen lead the Gamecocks in passing, rushing and receiving this season?
Yes, it’s possible.
At quarterback, redshirt freshman Brandon McIlwain and true freshman Jake Bentley have, according to Will Muschamp, have battled fifth-year senior Perry Orth on close to even terms throughout camp. With 10 days remaining until the season opener, Muschamp has declined to name a starter, partly a nod to the camp performances of McIlwain and Bentley.
Especially the latter, who has been on campus for only three months. But Bentley, who surrendered his final year of high school eligibility, wasted little time showcasing the skills that made him a four-star prospect, matching throws with Orth and McIlwain on a daily basis.
“(Bentley) has the ability to run or throw,” Muschamp said Sunday during a teleconference call with reporters. “He is a dual threat guy. Jake has attacked our playbook since he’s been here as well as anyone. He is extremely mature. Obviously, he has a very good background in football. I’m extremely pleased with Jake’s camp and what he has accomplished. The future of the position is outstanding here.”
Muschamp will likely call upon two quarterbacks during most games the season, describing the chances of two seeing meaningful action at Vanderbilt as “a very strong possibility.”
As far as catching the ball is concerned, sophomore receiver Deebo Samuel and tight end Hayden Hurst look ready to be USC’s top two in that category. However, freshman Bryan Edwards carried a strong spring practice finish (after he recovered from a meniscus tear suffered his senior year in high school) into preseason camp and should have plenty of balls thrown in his direction this season.
“When he came here, I don’t know if he was 60 or 70 percent throughout the spring,” Muschamp said. “You could see from Practice 1 to Practice 12 that he was a different player because he had more strength in his knee. It was all about the confidence he had in himself, the scheme and the knee. He was learning a brand new offense. He was a different guy at the end of spring practice.
According to Muschamp, Edwards made at least big play catching the football down the field in Saturday’s scrimmage.
The school record for most single season receptions by a freshman is 70 by Sidney Rice in 2005. Will Edwards challenge that mark in 2016?
“He played outstanding in the spring game. That was his best day,” Muschamp said. “He continued to build. He has changed his body since he’s been here. He bought into the weight room and understands the importance of that. Sometimes, receivers don’t think that’s importance, but it’s extremely important. He’s a different looking guy from the spring. He missed some time early in camp (with a hamstring issue), but now has come into his own. He has done nothing but improve since he’s been here.”
At running back, redshirt freshman A.J. Turner has surprisingly separated himself from the other contenders, including junior David Williams, whom most analysts thought would lock down the job. But Turner’s speed, elusiveness, consistency and reliability have proven the difference in his quest for the starting job.
Sunday, Muschamp lauded the scrimmage performances of Williams and Rod Talley before quickly adding Turner, a 5-foot-10, 195-pounder from Clifton, Va., remained the No. 1 running back. He is also tracking for a significant special teams role as USC’s top kickoff returner.
“I don’t know if we have a pecking order other than A.J. being our No. 1 back,” Muschamp said. “But you don’t make it through a season in the Southeastern Conference with one back. That’s not going to happen. Rod Talley and David (Williams) have done some nice things as well.”
