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GNT: Five things we learned from the spring game

  • Thread starter Brian Shoemaker
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Brian Shoemaker

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Gamecock Nation Today
Monday, April 8, 2019


Good morning.

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1. Five things we learned from the Garnet & Black Game

USC’s spring practice sessions culminated on Saturday with the spring football game inside Williams-Brice Stadium, in which fans were able to get a glimpse at the progress of multiple newcomers as well as returning known commodities.

What did we learn in watching the contest?

Positional questions answered on Jay Urich and Dakereon Joyner

Despite reassurances from Will Muschamp that South Carolina is committed to Dakereon Joyner as a quarterback, the redshirt freshman’s unique skill set has continued to cause speculation among the fan base that perhaps he would the field at another spot. Yet GamecockCentral.com noted all spring that Joyner has continued to improve as a passer and has become more comfortable in the offense, and Joyner was crystal clear at the post spring game press conference that he’s a quarterback all the way. If anything, all Saturday’s game – and this spring – showed is that Joyner is making progress and that there could be a role for him in this offense.

As for Urich, he warmed up with the wide receivers before the Garnet & Black Game, and saw extensive action at the position during the contest. His best play was a 63-yard catch and run for a touchdown. He then turned around and was a passer later in the game. Urich factored in last season on special teams and could do that this season if needed, as well. This was an interesting development given that USC has some questions at backup receiver slots. Urich will continue as a quarterback and in that meeting room, but the question of whether or not he could actually play some wideout was answered.

J.J. Enagbare looks like a really good player

If you saw a defensive lineman in the backfield on Saturday, chances are it was the sophomore out of Georgia. Enagbare, a former four-star prospect, played inside mostly last season out of necessity. He’s moved back to a more natural edge spot this season and really flourished. He’s quick, high motor, and uses his hands very well. Enagbare had a strong spring and closed it with a bang on Saturday.

Ryan Hilinski? As advertised

Every USC fan was itching to get a look at the elite freshman, and what he showed did not disappoint. The California product looked collected and under control, and his lightning-quick release was on display as he zipped the ball around the field. Not that the performance was perfect by any means, but Hilinski showed the type of arm talent and poise that has folks in the program very excited about his future.

The depth on the defensive line is the best under Muschamp

There have been springs in the past in Columbia in which walk-on long snappers were playing fairly early in the spring game. Not the case this year, as Muschamp and his staff have added numbers and talent to where USC can go two or three deep at certain positions and still field some quality players. Several second-year players are coming along nicely (Enagbare, Sandidge) and some veterans did not even factor in prominently or at all on Saturday. Add to that new guys like Joseph Anderson, Zacch Pickens, Devontae Davis, and Rodricus Fitten, and there is some intrigue as to how much the defensive line can improve this year and into the future.

Questions remain for running game

Not that the spring game would give any sort of definitive answer as to how much better USC’s running game can be this season, but perhaps there was not even much clarity at all. There is reason to believe some returning backs have improved to a degree, but the Gamecocks threw the ball a lot in the spring game and Rico Dowdle did not see carries. Will Muschamp said afterwards that it was about getting a good look at players, and that he told Bryan McClendon he could throw it every down if he wanted. The work on the running game will continue well into preseason camp, and USC will have to continue to recruit there to solve the riddle.

Parker White earns well-deserved scholarship

Wando product Parker White hit a field goal to end the half on Saturday, then was directed to the video board by Muschamp. The Gamecocks’ production team created a video with some career highlights of White and informing him he was officially on scholarship.

It was a nice moment, with coaches, teammates, and White’s family gathering to congratulate him afterwards. White walked on to the program and worked very hard to get a spot on the team, then ended up getting a shot as the starter. He’s delivered some game-winners for the Gamecocks and has really improved his consistency on his strong-legged kicks.

More spring game coverage
  • Spring game recap and spring awards (link)
  • Photos from the spring game (link)
  • Video: Will Muschamp, players discuss game(link)
  • Gamecocks exit spring game relatively healthy(link)
  • Confident, comfortable and coachable, Joyner finding his stride (link)
Chris Clark

2. ⚾ Baseball

The Gamecocks lost two of three against Alabama with both losses coming as part of an 18-inning doubleheader Friday where they scored a combined one run on seven hits over two games.

  • They're now 19-13 and 3-9 in the SEC, and it's the first time since joining the league in 1992 South Carolina's lost its first four conference series to start a year.
  • After struggling offensively the first two games hitters put up five runs on nine hits over 12 innings Saturday. They slashed .154/.207/.212 while averaging two runs, 2.3 walks and 7.3 strikeouts per game.
  • Cam Tringali made his first career start Saturday in game three, giving up four runs on four hits in 4.1 innings and only walked one batter.
  • Brett Kerry earned his third win, pitching 5.2 scoreless innings to scoreless innings to end Saturday's game, allowing just two hits and striking out four.
Related video: Gamecocks, players recap extra-inning win (link)

Baseball Links: News | SEC Standings | Schedule | Statistics | Polls

Collyn Taylor


3. Spring game football recruiting!

Spring game recruiting updates - Loads of updates on South Carolina recruiting from the spring game. (subscription)

Video: Gamecocks commit Da'Qon Stewart talks spring game and more - Fresh off a visit to South Carolina for the spring game, Gamecocks WR commit Da'Qon Stewart recaps his visit and discusses recruiting other players. (link)

A different kind of recruiting visit - This time last year, four-star quarterback Luke Doty visited the South Carolina spring game as an uncommitted prospect, still trying to choose his future school. These days, visits to Columbia are a little different for the South Carolina commitment, as the recruited has become the recruiter. (subscription)

South Carolina stands out for talented tight end - Alabama tight end Eric Shaw made his first trip to Columbia on Saturday to take in the Gamecocks' Garnet & Black Game in Williams-Brice Stadium. As it turns out, the trip was a very strong one for the 6-foot-4, 200-pounder. (subscription)

4. This, that, and the other

Photos: Swearinger Celebrity Charity Basketball Game - Stephon Gilmore, Jadeveon Clowney, and Pharoh Cooper were just a few of the former Gamecocks that played in the game. (link)

On Sunday, Whit Merrifield (Kansas City Royals) extended his hitting streak to 28 games, dating to last season. He is two games shy of tying George Brett’s franchise record.

Vanderbilt hired Jerry Stackhouse to be its new men's basketball coach. Stackhouse played in college at North Carolina and is currently an assistant coach with the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies.

Arkansas hired Eric Musselman to be its new men's basketball coach. Musselman led Nevada to a 110-34 record and three consecutive Mountain West Conference regular-season titles in four years.

Virginia Tech hired Mike Young to be its new men's basketball coach. Young spent the past 17 seasons at Wofford, winning 299 games and going to five NCAA tournament appearances.

Softball: USC beat Alabama two out of three
Game 1: Three-straight hits to start the game and some costly errors proved to be the difference as the No. 17 softball team dropped a 9-1 series opener against No. 4 Alabama on Friday. Carolina had 6 hits on the night but could plate just one run. (link)
Game 2: USC started the day by retiring its first jersey in program history and closed it with a 5-1 victory over No. 4 Alabama on Saturday night. Dixie Raley threw a complete-game to get the win as the Gamecocks tied the series against the Crimson Tide. (link)
Game 3: A Jana Johns home run in the bottom of the first paired with another stellar Dixie Raley pitching performance lifted USC to a 2-0 win over 4 Alabama on Sunday. Raley went five innings with no runs while Johns blasted a two-run home run just three batters in. (link)

Related: Trinity Johnson on having her jersey retired - In her own words, Trinity Johnson talks about her career at USC and having her jersey retired. (link)

Men's Tennis: USC splits matches
Friday: The men's tennis team captured four singles wins in straight sets to clinch the team decision in what ended as a 5-2 win over Auburn on Friday. (link)
Sunday: The men's tennis fell short in a 4-2 loss at No. 26 Alabama on Sunday. (link)

Women's Tennis: USC wins big on Senior Day
Senior Paige Cline clinched Carolina's, 4-0, victory of Alabama on Senior Day the Carolina Tennis Center on Sunday afternoon. (link)

Women's Golf: Olarra caps off historic weekend
Former USC standout Ainhoa Olarra joined 29 other golfers as the first women to play in a competitive golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Olarra, a 2018 graduate, finished in a tie for 12th. (link)

Track & Field - Spec Towns Invitational
The 2019 Spec Towns Invitational was a good one for the track & field team, as the Gamecocks posted seven event victories on Saturday. Combined with their two Friday wins, the Gamecocks claimed nine events this weekend. (link)

Men's Golf - Augusta Haskins Award Invitational
South Carolina came up just shy in the final round, taking second place after blowing away the rest of the field with a 273 (-15) on Sunday. Wake Forest, the leader going into today, edged out the Gamecocks by three. (link)

Beach Volleyball - LSU Beach Invitational
Saturday: The beach volleyball team opened competition at the LSU Beach Invitational Saturday, defeating Texas A&M-Kingsville but dropping a heartbreaker to the fourth-ranked Tigers in the nightcap. The win over Kingsville was the 100th win in program history. (link)
Sunday: USC wrapped up its weekend in Baton Rouge with a 3-2 loss to No. 20 TCU and a 4-1 win over Houston Baptist on Sunday. The Gamecocks are now 15-8 overall with one weekend remaining in the regular season. (link)

Jackson Fields

5. This Date in Gamecock History

April 8, 2011 – Colby Holmes pitched seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits, as he teamed with John Taylor and Matt Price to shut out Tennessee, 2-0, and take the series from the Vols. Holmes also didn't walk anyone and Taylor and Price combined for two innings of hitless relief. Christian Walker accounted for the offense as he homered with two out in the sixth, scoring himself and shortstop Peter Mooney who had singled. The road victory gave USC its eighth straight series win and the fifth straight series win over the Vols.

April 8, 1967 – Pitcher Billy Reitmeier set a school record by pitching 15.1 innings in a 6-5 win over North Carolina. Reitmeier finally gave way to Eddie Chester in the 16th and it would be Chester who got the win when a Tar Heel reliever forced in the winning run by walking Gamecock shortstop Toy McCord with the bases loaded. Reitmeier threw an amazing 216 pitches in the marathon outing. USC had to rally to tie the game in the 7th, 14th and 17th innings before McCord scored the game winner.

John Parker, gamecockarchives.com

6. Birthdays and Celebrations!

Dave Sparks – Sparks was a reserve in 1948 but had a big play in the Tulsa game, recovering a fumble to set up a Gamecock touchdown in the 27-7 USC win. He started at right guard in 1949 and 1950 and was named second team All-Southern Conference as well as honorable mention All-America. He played in the North-South all-star game after the season. He earned a starting berth with the San Francisco 49ers in 1951, then served two seasons in the military. He resumed a promising pro career in 1954 as a starter with the Redskins. Washington owner George Preston Marshall was quoted as describing Sparks as “one of pro football’s future stars.” Tragically, Sparks died of a heart attack only two hours after playing in a game for the Redskins that season.

• Chris Major (football/cornerback, 1983-86)

Gamecock Central birthdays (Saturday-Monday)

@yardcockfan (member since 2014)
@Gamecocks24/7 (member since 2010)

If you have a Gamecock Central account - free or subscription - you can add your birthday here.

John Parker, gamecockarchives.com

7. ⌚ Key Events (Countdown)

• April 10 – Give 4 Garnet (2 days)
• April 25 – NFL Draft begins (17)
• May 8 – SEC Softball Tourney (30)
• May 21 – SEC Baseball Tourney (43)
• July 15 – SEC Media Days begins (98)
• July 20 – Muschamp Ladies Football Clinic (103)
• Aug. 31 – Football: Gamecocks vs UNC (145)

More happenings


• April 10 – Women's Soccer: Fan Appreciation Clinic
• April 13 – Track & Field: Terrance Trammell, Miki Barber jersey retirements
• April 16 – Football Recruiting: Michael Wyman announcement
• April 23 – Augusta, Spurs Up Tour
• April 24 – Midlands, Spurs Up Tour
• April 29 – Lancaster, Spurs Up Tour
• April 30 – Greenville, Spurs Up Tour
• May 2 – York, Spurs Up Tour
• May 4 – Baseball: Earl Bass jersey retirement
• May 7 – Sumter, Spurs Up Tour
• May 8 – Myrtle Beach, Spurs Up Tour
• May 9 – Atlanta, Spurs Up Tour
• May 14 – Charleston, Spurs Up Tour
• May 18 – SC Legends Camp

Will Muschamp is scheduled to appear at all of the Spurs Up Tour events. More information, including specific locations and ticket prices, will be announced as it becomes available.
 
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April 8, 1967 – Pitcher Billy Reitmeier set a school record by pitching 15.1 innings in a 6-5 win over North Carolina. Reitmeier threw an amazing 216 pitches in the marathon outing.
John Parker, gamecockarchives.com
Not a big baseball fan, but this is the first time I ever heard of a pitcher throwing 216 pitches in one day.
 
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