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Wes Mitchell
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TEAM SCOOP
** South Carolina is now three days into its spring practice for 2019 and while it's still early, that means we've started to hear a little bit of feedback on how the first few days of practice have gone. As Will Muschamp said Friday, the staff has been happy with the attitudes, energy and effort from the team and he had an overall positive take on the team.
Behind closed doors, I'm told that Muschamp and the staff have been strict on the group in making sure they're aware that nothing less than their best effort is expected and making sure that the newcomers are introduced to what the expectations are for them. Those young guys have been thrown into the fire and they're all "swimming" right now, but they're handling it the right way.
** To also echo some of Muschamp's comments from Friday, the early returns on Zacch Pickens are very positive. He's dealing with a little bit of a hamstring injury but he's fine and is able to participate in a lot of what they do. From what I've been told, the staff loves Pickens and Pickens loves South Carolina. A lot was made of how Pickens made his own choice, and spurned Clemson who was right in his backyard to come to Columbia. Part of the reason for that was his trust in this staff and I'm told that it's been a great fit now that Pickens is on campus.
It's no surprise that Muschamp also singled out Jaylen Nichols. We had been told - and reported - during winter workouts that Nichols moves extremely well for someone his size and is very light on his feet. As Muschamp said, don't crown anyone yet, but one source said that Nichols physically looks like a future NFL guy just based on the eyeball test. He has the athleticism to play tackle at this level for sure.
** The "sleeper" of the class so far may be freshman KeShawn Toney. I remarked that Toney looked the part next to his peers on Wednesday. Toney looks much bigger than expected and has already put on some good weight since the end of his high school career.
Toney was used more in the passing game in high school, so he's still learning about that part of his responsibility but most importantly he's a willing blocker, which is most of the equation at tight end. Toney is also a great kid and a sharp kid. Add all of those things together and I think you can count on him to at the very least be some type of contributor at some point in his career and is a special teams candidate early on.
** It's far too early to say anything about leaders in the backup quarterback competition. As we mentioned in the updates from the first practice, both Dakereon Joyner and Jay Urich were both taking reps with the second team during the open portion of that practice.
As much as everyone is excited about Ryan Hilinski, and rightfully so, I would say not to count out Joyner. There were times in practice last year where he really moved the team in practice and I think we'll see the staff look to get his ability on the field in some way this season. He really is electric with the football in his hands and he's more comfortable in the passing elements of the offense now as well.
Again, too early to start handicapping everything, but I think this is going to be one of the more interesting competitions on the team. For the record, and it probably goes without saying, but Jake Bentley is still far and away the best looking option at QB.
** So far so good on the defense getting the ball off the offense in practice, which is good for the defense and obviously not for the offense. One person remarked to me just how much bigger South Carolina looks in the secondary now compared to when Muschamp and Co. first arrived in Columbia. Jaycee Horn, R.J. Roderick and Israel Muakuamu have emerged as leaders in that group. It's still early but I have heard early positive returns on Jamel Cook as someone who could be a start this year as well.
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RECRUITING SCOOP
** I'd characterize Calera (Ala.) four-star defensive tackle Jayson Jones as a long shot, but the Alabama commit is set to visit South Carolina on Saturday. Ranked the No. 8 defensive tackle in the country, I spoke to Jones last spring before he was committed to Alabama and he mentioned South Carolina as a school he wanted to check out but nothing really seemed to materialize there.
Fast forward to now and Carolina will get the chance to put its best foot forward on Saturday. While committed, Jones is still open to hearing from other schools and is also going to check out Florida and Oregon, and maybe Georgia and/or Clemson too.
** Tyrone (Ga.) Sandy Creek class of 2020 three-star ATH Brian Branch is also scheduled to visit South Carolina Saturday. Listed as an "athlete," the 6-foot-1, 178-pounder has seen his recruiting stock take off lately and appears to be someone that the Gamecocks and many other schools are going to recruit as a defensive back. Branch has been at South Carolina before, but this will be his first chance to see the new football ops facility. Branch was originally planning to visit Carolina to see it earlier this year but had to reschedule.
Branch is also heavily considering Ohio State, Indiana (first school to offer), LSU, Tennessee, Michigan and Texas A&M, among others.
PODCAST: Chris Clark and Wes Mitchell on Day 1 of spring practice
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