I’ll drop notes from Gamecock players after practice wraps right here.
CHAD TERRELL -
It’s been hard to get ready and get healthy so he can get back out, but he’s 100 percent now. There was a point where he questioned about being able to play again because of the fatigue of rehabbing and not being able to be out there. He saw the light and it started getting better and better.
He’s fighting for reps and there’s a lot of competition. He feels pretty comfortable in the offense.
The expectation for offense now that the team is healthier is to have to have the least amount of mental errors and to be smooth.
There’s more emphasis on the little things, he said, as far as ball security and knowing where to be blocking.
His confidence is the highest it’s been. Terrell credits his grandmother and the rest of his family plus folks in the training room. He also said the new staff was great, too, because it was the first time in a while he had been able to run around.
JOSH VANN -
Tries not to pay attention to outside criticism: “just gotta play better,” he said.
He talked a little bit about each year and said that they were all a learning experience. He feels he’s evolved by taking coaching better. His first three years he was behind some great receivers and didn’t have the best attitude by being on the back line. He’s grown in that.
This offense is a “head start” to the lead. The team huddles except in two minute. You get the whole package, he said.
Biggest difference this year is that everyone seems keyed in and dialed in. Everything is smooth, come together as a family. It’s the little things, Vann said.
Guys that have impressed Vann: Joyner, Jalen Brooks, the whole D-line has been “going crazy”. He singled out Enagbare and Pickens. Marcellas Dial was singled out by Vann, too.
JALEN BROOKS -
He feels better this year, being able to go straight from camp into a game. Even last year, he didn’t feel comfortable about his progress. This year, he’s been correcting through the spring and summer.
After games, he sometimes felt “numb”, wasn’t in the best head space. He says it’s still no excuse for his production level. He feels more confident.
Asked about leadership, he mentioned Joyner, Josh Vann, and himself as having multiple years of experience in college football. Jalen feels “back in his element” as far as helping freshmen along.
Differences in scheme - Still an NFL offense, but there are differences in the playbook. He is at the Z position whereas Josh Vann is at the X position. That was flipped last season.
It depends on practice, but they do take deep shots and did a lot in the spring. The staff has been stressing it.
He feels good about how the player-run practices this summer. They would run through the plays, then run more. He felt they were “tapped in” as a team.
He met up with Doty in Myrtle Beach recently during some down time to work out.
He gave a shoutout to Luke Day and his staff for their work in making the players mentally and physically tough. Brooks said having the team chemistry and are clicking, it’s hard to hear a team like that.
Younger guys that are catching his eye in practice: JuJu McDowell, Marcellas Dial, Debo Williams, O’Mega Blake, Rico Powers. Also mentioned walk on Payton Mangrum.
KEVIN HARRIS -
Doesn’t know when he will get back out on the field. Not cleared yet. He anticipates getting on the field for the opener.
KH says the rest of the guys look good on the field right now.
Expectations for himself - he doesn’t feel any added pressure, but he wants to do even better than last year.
Scheme and what he likes - The team likes to run, but they are doing more in the passing game and needs to do more there.
Satterfield is also trying to throw more to the backs.
On Lloyd - he still has to get back to himself, but he’s fast and doing well.
KH says it’s important during games when there are long drives or lots of carries back to back to have someone who can come in for you.
On JuJu McDowell - KH says he’s real shifty, real fast.
The Bojangles spot - Kevin said that he came up with the idea for the video.
Kevin asked about other guys in the SEC saying he was tough to tackle, and he asks who said that, drawing laughs in the media room.
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