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Brian Shoemaker
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Gamecock Nation Today
- Friday, May 3, 2019 -
Good morning from Gamecock Central.
The deadline to renew football season tickets is today. If you don’t have season tickets, you can purchase them.
Here is the schedule for this weekend:
Today
R.J. Roderick/Credit: Chris Gillespie
1. Safeties and nickelbacks
South Carolina put a bow on spring football last month with the Garnet & Black Game inside Williams-Brice Stadium. In this series, Gamecock Central takes a look at where things stand at each position now that spring ball is over.
Today focuses on the safeties and nickelbacks.
• No position on the South Carolina roster dealt with more injuries last season than the safeties. Javon Charleston, J.T. Ibe, Tavyn Jackson, Jamyest Williamsand Jaylin Dickerson all missed games, as did cornerback Jaycee Horn, who started at the position against Chattanooga. Senior Steven Montac and freshman R.J. Roderick were also banged up and playing through pain at times. The staff will clearly hope for better luck there in 2019.
• After getting thrown into the fire as a freshman, Roderick returns as a sure starter this season, though where exactly he'll start remains a mystery.
A proven heavy-hitter, Roderick worked this spring with the first team at both safety and the nickelback position.
• Ibe, a former graduate transfer from Rice, saw his first season in Columbia cut to just four games due to a knee injury, but was granted an additional year by the NCAA and will be a key contributor as either a starting safety or one of the first players off the bench at the position.
Ibe had a strong spring, taking reps with the first team, and has worked to perfect his knowledge of the scheme and improve his coverage ability.
• Williams is in a similar spot to Ibe. He'll likely be a starter or the first guy off the bench at safety as he returns from a shoulder injury that cut short his season for the second straight year.
What Williams lacks in size he makes up for in toughness and a knack for being around the football.
• The wildcards at safety are redshirt junior Jamel Cook and redshirt sophomore Jaylin Dickerson.
At 6-foot-4, 215-pounds, Cook looks the part of an SEC safety. He flashed in the spring game with an interception and several big hits, but Will Muschamp quickly downplayed his day, saying that the transfer from Southern Cal had been inconsistent with assignments and effort this spring. Still, if he can put it together, the talent is there.
Effort has never been an issue with Dickerson, but injuries have as he's been nagged by his shoulder since arriving in Columbia. But make no mistake, the staff has always been high on the North Carolina native's upside if can stay healthy for an extended period of time.
• What happens at the nickelback position, which is only on the field when Carolina employs a formation with five defensive backs or more, will likely have a ripple effect on the other positions in the secondary.
With almost every offense using some form of the spread, the position has become more important than ever in college football in the last decade or so.
As mentioned above, Roderick could man the spot, which would likely mean that Ibe and Williams would start alongside each other at safety, as opposed to fighting it out to start alongside Roderick there. Horn is also a candidate.
But look for true freshman Jammie Robinson to get a long, hard look at the position. He's got the right size, skillset and mindset to play the position since he's a heavy hitter who can also cover. If Robinson can emerge at nickel, it keeps the staff from having to take Roderick away from safety or Horn away from cornerback.
– Wes Mitchell
2. ➕1️⃣ Thompson granted sixth year of eligibility
South Carolina linebacker Eldridge Thompson received some expected, but good, news this week when the NCAA granted him a sixth year of eligibility, head coach Will Muschamp announced Thursday at the York County Spurs Up Tour stop.
• Thompson played in the first three games of the 2018 season, collecting five tackles as a reserve linebacker and special teams performer, but then missed the rest of the year after having surgery to repair shoulder problems that lingered from his time in junior college.
• Though he was still somewhat limited, Thompson was able to participate in practice this spring as he continued to rehab the shoulder injury.
• The Houston, Texas, native played the WILL linebacker position during his first two years in Columbia, but also took reps at the SAM linebacker spot this spring. He should provide depth at both positions and contribute on special teams this season.
• "I'm really excited for Eldridge. I think he's a really good football player. I think he's a guy that we certainly missed last year. He brings a lot of athleticism to that group. He's a guy that can go play in space as far as a SAM/nickel and walk and play in the slot.
"He's done a nice job for us and is going to continue to develop as a linebacker. He brings an awful lot to our football team. Special teams, he's a huge contributor as well." - Will Muschamp
– Wes Mitchell
3. ⚾ Gamecocks hosts Commodores
Who: South Carolina (24-20, 5-16 SEC) vs. No. 4 Vanderbilt (35-9, 15-6 SEC)
Where: Founders Park (Columbia, S.C.)
• Friday, 7 p.m., SECN+, TuneIn
• Saturday, 8 p.m., ESPNU, TuneIn
• Sunday, 1:30 p.m., SECN+, TuneIn
Probable starting pitchers:
USC: RHP Daniel Lloyd (3-3, 7.43), RHP Reid Morgan (3-4, 3.63), TBA
VAN: RHP Drake Fellows (9-0, 3.67), RHP Kumar Rocker (5-4, 4.31), RHP Patrick Raby (7-1, 2.77)
Vanderbilt comes to Columbia as one of the best teams in the country firmly in the mix for a national seed and a SEC regular-season title.
The Commodores are coming off a sweep of Auburn and a 21-10 win over Tennessee Tech Tuesday, and have some of the country’s top prospects, including projected first-round pick J.J. Bleday.
South Carolina comes in scuffling, 2-5 over the last seven games and fresh off getting swept at Missouri.
– Collyn Taylor
4. This, that, and the other
Football: Video of Muschamp at the York County Spurs Up Tour stop - USC head coach Will Muschamp discussed two Gamecocks going into the York County Hall of Fame soon, expectations from him and from USC fans, and more in advance of Thursday night's "Spurs Up Tour" stop for York County. (link)
Football: Tanner says USC discussing Hall of Fame at Williams-Brice - The university and athletic department are in discussions right now for a potential Gamecock Hall of Fame at Williams-Brice Stadium. (link)
Football: Looking ahead to the next crop of NFL Gamecocks - With the 2019 NFL Draft complete and the book closed on the most recent group of Gamecock pros, let’s look ahead to the next crop. (subscription)
Football Recruiting: The latest with each 2020 commit - South Carolina currently has five prospects committed to its 2020 class and they've all been busy lately with trips to campus and the start of spring practice for most. Here's a quick look at the latest on each prospect. (subscription)
Baseball Recruiting: National expert breaks down recruiting class - USC is in the midst of a disappointing season this year, sitting at 5-16 with three SEC weekends left to go, but there is hope on the horizon. (link)
Baseball: Gamecocks down another pitcher - Head coach Mark Kingston updates T.J. Shook's injury. (link)
Baseball: Family, friends excited to honor Earl Bass with jersey retirement - It's been more than four decades since Earl Bass pitched at South Carolina, but he still holds many program records. (link)
WBB: Harris to compete at USAB Pan Am Games trials - USC junior Tyasha Harris is among the 36 student-athletes who will take part in trials for the 2019 U.S. Pan American Games Women's Basketball Team. (link)
Women's Tennis: No. 4 Carolina faces North Florida in first round - USC kicks off the NCAA Championships by hosting North Florida in the first round at noon today (link)
Beach Volleyball: Gamecocks add Brabham, Epps - USC added two new members for the 2019-20 academic year, announcing that Eliza Epps (Lexington, S.C.) and Madison Brabham (Kingwood, Texas) will join the team in the fall. (link)
– Jackson Fields
5. This Date in Gamecock History
May 3, 1932 – Three-sport star Grayson Wolf pitches the first no-hitter in USC history, as he defeats Presbyterian, 22-1. The Blue Hose were able to score on a sacrifice fly but Wolf managed to keep a zero in the hits column as the offense battered Presbyterian. Catcher Bill Jenkins led USC with three hits and five other Gamecocks, including Wolf, had two hits. Right fielder Bill Harley smacked a pair of doubles in support of Wolf.
May 3, 1948 – Frank Sherer hurls a no-hitter against Presbyterian, as the Blue Hose had just three men reach base (a walk, two errors). The Gamecocks got 14 hits in support of Sherer, led by a 5-for-5 day from center fielder Barney Dusenbury. Second baseman Fred Bargiacchi had the game's only extra base hit, a triple. The game was scoreless through four innings but the Gamecocks broke it open in the bottom of the fifth with four runs.
– John Parker, gamecockarchives.com
6. Birthdays and Celebrations!
Ieasia Walker - A guard from Amityville, New York, Walker was rated the No. 17 recruit in the nation. Despite only starting six games as a freshman she averaged 20 minutes and 5.4 points per game in 2009-10. As a sophomore, she led the team in scoring 14 times on her way to being named second-team all-SEC by the league's coaches. In 2011-12 as a junior, she again was named second-team all-SEC and led the team in assists and steals. Accomplishments as a senior included being the first Gamecock named first-team all-SEC in women's basketball in a decade and being named SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
Ron Bunch (football/offensive guard, 1990)
Harvey Heise (baseball/third base, 1981-84)
– John Parker, gamecockarchives.com
7. ⌚ Key Events (Countdown)
• May 8 – SEC Softball Tourney (5 days)
• May 21 – SEC Baseball Tourney (18)
• July 15 – SEC Media Days begins (73)
• July 20 – Ladies Football Clinic (78)
• Aug. 31 – Football: Gamecocks vs UNC (120)
More happenings
• May 3 – Football season ticket deadline
• May 4 – Baseball: Earl Bass jersey retirement
• May 7 – Sumter, Spurs Up Tour
• May 8 – Myrtle Beach, Spurs Up Tour
• May 8 – Marion Gamecock Club meeting
• May 9 – Atlanta, Spurs Up Tour
• May 14 – Charleston, Spurs Up Tour
• May 18 – SC Legends Baseball Camp
Will Muschamp is scheduled to appear at all of the Spurs Up Tour events. More information, including locations and ticket prices, can be found here.
DID YOU KNOW? You can receive this report (Gamecock Nation Today) early each morning in your email inbox. Sign up here.
------------------------
Gamecock Nation Today
- Friday, May 3, 2019 -
Good morning from Gamecock Central.
The deadline to renew football season tickets is today. If you don’t have season tickets, you can purchase them.
Here is the schedule for this weekend:
Today
- 10 am - Men's Tennis: vs ETSU, NCAA Championships, Live Video
- 12 pm - Women's Tennis: North Florida, NCAA Championships, Live Video
- 7 pm - Baseball: Vanderbilt, SECN+, TuneIn
- 8 pm - Softball: at Missouri, SECN
- 10 am - Women's Tennis: TBD, NCAA Championships, Live Video
- 1 pm - Men's Tennis: vs TBD, NCAA Championships, Live Video
- 3 pm - Softball: at Missouri, SECN+
- 8 pm - Baseball: Vanderbilt, ESPNU, TuneIn
R.J. Roderick/Credit: Chris Gillespie
1. Safeties and nickelbacks
South Carolina put a bow on spring football last month with the Garnet & Black Game inside Williams-Brice Stadium. In this series, Gamecock Central takes a look at where things stand at each position now that spring ball is over.
Today focuses on the safeties and nickelbacks.
• No position on the South Carolina roster dealt with more injuries last season than the safeties. Javon Charleston, J.T. Ibe, Tavyn Jackson, Jamyest Williamsand Jaylin Dickerson all missed games, as did cornerback Jaycee Horn, who started at the position against Chattanooga. Senior Steven Montac and freshman R.J. Roderick were also banged up and playing through pain at times. The staff will clearly hope for better luck there in 2019.
• After getting thrown into the fire as a freshman, Roderick returns as a sure starter this season, though where exactly he'll start remains a mystery.
A proven heavy-hitter, Roderick worked this spring with the first team at both safety and the nickelback position.
• Ibe, a former graduate transfer from Rice, saw his first season in Columbia cut to just four games due to a knee injury, but was granted an additional year by the NCAA and will be a key contributor as either a starting safety or one of the first players off the bench at the position.
Ibe had a strong spring, taking reps with the first team, and has worked to perfect his knowledge of the scheme and improve his coverage ability.
• Williams is in a similar spot to Ibe. He'll likely be a starter or the first guy off the bench at safety as he returns from a shoulder injury that cut short his season for the second straight year.
What Williams lacks in size he makes up for in toughness and a knack for being around the football.
• The wildcards at safety are redshirt junior Jamel Cook and redshirt sophomore Jaylin Dickerson.
At 6-foot-4, 215-pounds, Cook looks the part of an SEC safety. He flashed in the spring game with an interception and several big hits, but Will Muschamp quickly downplayed his day, saying that the transfer from Southern Cal had been inconsistent with assignments and effort this spring. Still, if he can put it together, the talent is there.
Effort has never been an issue with Dickerson, but injuries have as he's been nagged by his shoulder since arriving in Columbia. But make no mistake, the staff has always been high on the North Carolina native's upside if can stay healthy for an extended period of time.
• What happens at the nickelback position, which is only on the field when Carolina employs a formation with five defensive backs or more, will likely have a ripple effect on the other positions in the secondary.
With almost every offense using some form of the spread, the position has become more important than ever in college football in the last decade or so.
As mentioned above, Roderick could man the spot, which would likely mean that Ibe and Williams would start alongside each other at safety, as opposed to fighting it out to start alongside Roderick there. Horn is also a candidate.
But look for true freshman Jammie Robinson to get a long, hard look at the position. He's got the right size, skillset and mindset to play the position since he's a heavy hitter who can also cover. If Robinson can emerge at nickel, it keeps the staff from having to take Roderick away from safety or Horn away from cornerback.
– Wes Mitchell
2. ➕1️⃣ Thompson granted sixth year of eligibility
South Carolina linebacker Eldridge Thompson received some expected, but good, news this week when the NCAA granted him a sixth year of eligibility, head coach Will Muschamp announced Thursday at the York County Spurs Up Tour stop.
• Thompson played in the first three games of the 2018 season, collecting five tackles as a reserve linebacker and special teams performer, but then missed the rest of the year after having surgery to repair shoulder problems that lingered from his time in junior college.
• Though he was still somewhat limited, Thompson was able to participate in practice this spring as he continued to rehab the shoulder injury.
• The Houston, Texas, native played the WILL linebacker position during his first two years in Columbia, but also took reps at the SAM linebacker spot this spring. He should provide depth at both positions and contribute on special teams this season.
• "I'm really excited for Eldridge. I think he's a really good football player. I think he's a guy that we certainly missed last year. He brings a lot of athleticism to that group. He's a guy that can go play in space as far as a SAM/nickel and walk and play in the slot.
"He's done a nice job for us and is going to continue to develop as a linebacker. He brings an awful lot to our football team. Special teams, he's a huge contributor as well." - Will Muschamp
– Wes Mitchell
3. ⚾ Gamecocks hosts Commodores
Who: South Carolina (24-20, 5-16 SEC) vs. No. 4 Vanderbilt (35-9, 15-6 SEC)
Where: Founders Park (Columbia, S.C.)
• Friday, 7 p.m., SECN+, TuneIn
• Saturday, 8 p.m., ESPNU, TuneIn
• Sunday, 1:30 p.m., SECN+, TuneIn
Probable starting pitchers:
USC: RHP Daniel Lloyd (3-3, 7.43), RHP Reid Morgan (3-4, 3.63), TBA
VAN: RHP Drake Fellows (9-0, 3.67), RHP Kumar Rocker (5-4, 4.31), RHP Patrick Raby (7-1, 2.77)
Vanderbilt comes to Columbia as one of the best teams in the country firmly in the mix for a national seed and a SEC regular-season title.
The Commodores are coming off a sweep of Auburn and a 21-10 win over Tennessee Tech Tuesday, and have some of the country’s top prospects, including projected first-round pick J.J. Bleday.
South Carolina comes in scuffling, 2-5 over the last seven games and fresh off getting swept at Missouri.
– Collyn Taylor
4. This, that, and the other
Football: Video of Muschamp at the York County Spurs Up Tour stop - USC head coach Will Muschamp discussed two Gamecocks going into the York County Hall of Fame soon, expectations from him and from USC fans, and more in advance of Thursday night's "Spurs Up Tour" stop for York County. (link)
Football: Tanner says USC discussing Hall of Fame at Williams-Brice - The university and athletic department are in discussions right now for a potential Gamecock Hall of Fame at Williams-Brice Stadium. (link)
Football: Looking ahead to the next crop of NFL Gamecocks - With the 2019 NFL Draft complete and the book closed on the most recent group of Gamecock pros, let’s look ahead to the next crop. (subscription)
Football Recruiting: The latest with each 2020 commit - South Carolina currently has five prospects committed to its 2020 class and they've all been busy lately with trips to campus and the start of spring practice for most. Here's a quick look at the latest on each prospect. (subscription)
Baseball Recruiting: National expert breaks down recruiting class - USC is in the midst of a disappointing season this year, sitting at 5-16 with three SEC weekends left to go, but there is hope on the horizon. (link)
Baseball: Gamecocks down another pitcher - Head coach Mark Kingston updates T.J. Shook's injury. (link)
Baseball: Family, friends excited to honor Earl Bass with jersey retirement - It's been more than four decades since Earl Bass pitched at South Carolina, but he still holds many program records. (link)
WBB: Harris to compete at USAB Pan Am Games trials - USC junior Tyasha Harris is among the 36 student-athletes who will take part in trials for the 2019 U.S. Pan American Games Women's Basketball Team. (link)
Women's Tennis: No. 4 Carolina faces North Florida in first round - USC kicks off the NCAA Championships by hosting North Florida in the first round at noon today (link)
Beach Volleyball: Gamecocks add Brabham, Epps - USC added two new members for the 2019-20 academic year, announcing that Eliza Epps (Lexington, S.C.) and Madison Brabham (Kingwood, Texas) will join the team in the fall. (link)
– Jackson Fields
5. This Date in Gamecock History
May 3, 1932 – Three-sport star Grayson Wolf pitches the first no-hitter in USC history, as he defeats Presbyterian, 22-1. The Blue Hose were able to score on a sacrifice fly but Wolf managed to keep a zero in the hits column as the offense battered Presbyterian. Catcher Bill Jenkins led USC with three hits and five other Gamecocks, including Wolf, had two hits. Right fielder Bill Harley smacked a pair of doubles in support of Wolf.
May 3, 1948 – Frank Sherer hurls a no-hitter against Presbyterian, as the Blue Hose had just three men reach base (a walk, two errors). The Gamecocks got 14 hits in support of Sherer, led by a 5-for-5 day from center fielder Barney Dusenbury. Second baseman Fred Bargiacchi had the game's only extra base hit, a triple. The game was scoreless through four innings but the Gamecocks broke it open in the bottom of the fifth with four runs.
– John Parker, gamecockarchives.com
6. Birthdays and Celebrations!
Ieasia Walker - A guard from Amityville, New York, Walker was rated the No. 17 recruit in the nation. Despite only starting six games as a freshman she averaged 20 minutes and 5.4 points per game in 2009-10. As a sophomore, she led the team in scoring 14 times on her way to being named second-team all-SEC by the league's coaches. In 2011-12 as a junior, she again was named second-team all-SEC and led the team in assists and steals. Accomplishments as a senior included being the first Gamecock named first-team all-SEC in women's basketball in a decade and being named SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
Ron Bunch (football/offensive guard, 1990)
Harvey Heise (baseball/third base, 1981-84)
– John Parker, gamecockarchives.com
7. ⌚ Key Events (Countdown)
• May 8 – SEC Softball Tourney (5 days)
• May 21 – SEC Baseball Tourney (18)
• July 15 – SEC Media Days begins (73)
• July 20 – Ladies Football Clinic (78)
• Aug. 31 – Football: Gamecocks vs UNC (120)
More happenings
• May 3 – Football season ticket deadline
• May 4 – Baseball: Earl Bass jersey retirement
• May 7 – Sumter, Spurs Up Tour
• May 8 – Myrtle Beach, Spurs Up Tour
• May 8 – Marion Gamecock Club meeting
• May 9 – Atlanta, Spurs Up Tour
• May 14 – Charleston, Spurs Up Tour
• May 18 – SC Legends Baseball Camp
Will Muschamp is scheduled to appear at all of the Spurs Up Tour events. More information, including locations and ticket prices, can be found here.
