B
Brian Shoemaker
Guest
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Good morning from Gamecock Central.
SEC Media Days begin today and continue through Thursday.
We're 47 days away from the Gamecocks playing North Carolina.
1.4️⃣7️⃣ Countdown to Kickoff: 47 days!
Our countdown to South Carolina's 2019 season opener against North Carolina in Charlotte is now down to just 47 days meaning that today’s athlete is one of the newest to the team, redshirt sophomore Jordan Villafane.
Villafane was a standout receiver and defensive back in Pennsylvania, earning all-state honors at both positions in high school. He enrolled at Bloomsburg (Penn.) and started at defensive back as a freshman before transferring to South Carolina last fall.
He officially joined the football team as a walk-on this spring and will work with the scout team this fall.
– Will Helms
2. Three storylines for Day 1 of SEC Media Days
The annual spectacle that is SEC Media Days begins today and that means three SEC teams are set to face the media firing squad to discuss everything under the sun before preseason camp starts in three short weeks.
First up are Florida, LSU and Missouri, and all three programs offer some intriguing storylines for the 2019 season.
• What the heck is going on in Gainesville?
The first year of the Dan Mullen era at Florida ended with nothing but positive momentum as the Gators scored a come-from-behind win over the Gamecocks before blowout victories of Idaho, in-state rival FSU, and Michigan in the Peach Bowl. That was followed by signing a recruiting class that ranks eighth in the country on Rivals. But then, things got... weird.
While the number of transfers in college football seems to be growing at an accelerated rate, the fact that the Gators have now had nine players leave the program this offseason does at least pique one's interest. And that top-10 recruiting class has already lost four members, including QB Jalon Jones and five-star CB Chris Steele (who Gamecock fans will surely remember) with reports from Gainesville saying the Gators could lose three more signees to academics. Florida may be a darkhorse contender for the SEC East this season, but it's still been a strange offseason for the Gators.
• Can LSU contend with Alabama?
ESPN's Football Power Index, of course, has Alabama as the top team in the SEC West (and No. 2 team in the country), but the metric is also incredibly high on this year's LSU squad. The Tigers are considered the fourth best team in the country and the No. 2 team in the West. Is this the year that Ed Orgeron's bunch can unseat Nick Saban?
While the Tigers don't have a Tua Tagovailoa behind center, their quarterback situation does seem settled with Joe Burrow, who finished last year on a high and returns his top six receiving targets. LSU's offensive line, which returns a host of veterans, will need to be better this year after having some of the worst sacks allowed numbers in the conference last season.
The Tigers defense should be good, as it almost always is, with nine starters returning and another potential All-American in the secondary (what else is new?) in Grant Delpit. As always, the question will be, can the offense keep up?
• What is Kelly Bryant's impact on Missouri?
If there was any lingering doubt whether Missouri is now Kelly Bryant's team, head coach Barry Odom's decision to bring the graduate transfer quarterback to SEC Media Days should end that. The former Clemson dual-threat quarterback should bring an interesting element to both the Missouri offense with his knack for making big plays and the Missouri program with his experience in big games at Clemson.
After three-plus years of Drew Lock, the big-armed, pass-first quarterback, Missouri's offensive scheme will surely look different this season. The answer to just how different probably won't come until the ball is kicked off this fall, but still, it will be interesting to hear from Bryant about his transition to Missouri and approach to his senior season.
– Wes Mitchell
3. Five questions with Barrett Sallee
Barrett Sallee covers college football for CBS Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @BarrettSallee.
1) Alabama and Clemson have obviously been dominant in the sport of college football lately, each winning two of the last four national championships. Both are heavily favored to make the playoff again, do you think this dominance is good for the sport or would more parity be better?
People love to say that they hate that team or teams dominate sports, whether it be the New York Yankees, New England Patriots, Golden State Warriors or whoever on any given year. That’s a lie. Sports need those teams to draw attention, give others a bar to reach for and draw in viewers when they even get tested. What’s more, fans don’t really want Cinderella either. UMBC beating Virginia in the NCAA Tournament a few years back was awesome at the time, but nobody would tolerate them moving into the Sweet Sixteen or beyond. Clemson and Alabama being the gold standards creates parity between the two, and a level for the others to reach.
2) Going into the 2019 season, which team would you say is a sleeper to make the college football playoff? Other than the obvious Clemson, Alabama, Oklahoma, etc.
I assume Georgia and Ohio State are in that group as well, so I’ll go with Oregon. If the Ducks can get past Auburn in Week 1 -- which I don’t think will be too difficult -- then they have the ability to get through the Pac-12 either undefeated or with one loss. People might want to convince you otherwise, but one loss doesn’t eliminate Pac-12 teams. The Ducks have one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Justin Herbert, one of the top offensive lines in the country and a hard-nosed defense that should be one of the best in the conference.
3) Who is a coach at a smaller school who you believe could take the next step in the next few years and take a big job i.e. Tom Herman?
I assume Matt Campbell at Iowa State is out because he has a Power Five job already. That said, I’m on board with Luke Fickell at Cincinnati moving up in the near future. His one-year fill-in role at Ohio State isn’t indicative of how he coaches or what he’s done since then. If a job opens up -- especially in the midwest -- he’s going to kill it.
4) If you could change one rule in college football, what would it be?
I love college overtime rules. They are way better than the NFL. But I’d move the ball back to the 50-yard line instead of the 25-yard line. At least make the teams work to get into field goal range. I know that might put some extra stress on players who are already tired, but it will prevent some of those ultra-long overtime games.
5) With the well-documented difficulty of South Carolina’s schedule, what would you consider to be a success in Will Muschamp’s fourth season as the head coach?
If they get to a bowl game, maybe post a 7-5 record and look like they’re moving forward, that’s enough. It’s a slow build at South Carolina. Boom needs to keep recruiting, build even more depth along the defensive front and let the program be what he wants it to be.
– Jackson Fields
Max Iyama (Credit: Chris Gillespie)
4. This, that, and the other
Football: Iyama taking medical hardship - Former four-star recruit and current Gamecock lineman Max Iyama is taking a medical hardship and is no longer on the South Carolina football team, GamecockCentral.com has learned. (link)
Baseball: Berryhill signs with the Reds - On the final day for players to sign a professional contract, Luke Berryhill officially put pen to paper with the Cincinnati Reds Friday afternoon, GamecockCentral has learned. (link)
Football Recruiting: The Insider Report - The latest on USC's 2020 class of January enrollees, an update on Mohamed Kaba, and more. (subscription)
Football Recruiting: Phenom Florida running back talks USC - American Heritage High (Plantation, Fla.) took several prospects to a day session of Will Muschamp Football Camp in June. Among them was Mark Fletcher, a 2023 running back who now carries five major scholarship offers. (subscription)
Football and Baseball Recruiting: Malik Newton keeping South Carolina in mind after summer trip - The two-sport athlete camped in Columbia last month. What did he think? (subscription)
The Latest: Gauthier update - After a strong camp visit to South Carolina in June, this class of 2021 quarterback target hinted a decision could be one the way. We've got the latest on Gauither's decision timeline inside. (link)
Baseball: Two more Gamecocks are summer league all-stars - Noah Campbell and Dallas Beaver earn a prestigious all-star nod. (link)
Baseball: 2019 Baseball Season-in-Review - The 2019 University of South Carolina baseball team saw five players picked in the MLB First-Year Player Draft, including TJ Hopkins in the ninth round. (link)
Baseball Recruiting: McGregor 'just starting to scratch the surface' of his abilities - We caught up left-handed pitcher Will McGregor’s head coach at T.L. Hanna Daniel Crenshaw, who talked about McGregor battling through injuries and what he can bring to next year’s pitching staff. (subscription)
Women's Basketball: Getting to know Olivia Thompson - The sharp-shooting guard from Lexington High School recaps her recruitment, talks about playing for her state and more in this Q&A. (link)
Women's Basketball: Getting to know Destiny Littleton - Littleton transfers in from Texas to finish out her career. She recently delved deep into her struggles in Austin, what she could bring this year and what it's like to come in with so many talented freshmen. (link)
Women's Basketball: Staley receives Human Spirit Award - In recognition of her leadership on and off the court, Dawn Staley has been named a winner of the 2019 Mannie Jackson – Basketball's Human Spirit Award. (link)
– Jackson Fields
5. Events and Birthdays!
Happy Birthday to Ernest Dye - The brother of Gamecock defensive lineman Marty Dye, Ernest was named all-region and all-state as a senior at Greenwood and played in the Shrine Bowl. He went on to play two seasons at Itawamba Community College in Mississippi before joining his brother at Carolina in 1991. Dye was rated as USC's best offensive lineman in his two years as a starter and was named all-SEC in 1992. He also won the squad's Steve Wadiak MVP award and played in the Senior Bowl after the 1992 season. Dye was drafted in the first round by the Phoenix Cardinals in 1993 and played for them through 1996 then played one season with the St. Louis Rams. He lives in the Atlanta area now.
More Birthdays
Eric Davis (football/punter, 2008-10)
Mitchell Myers (soccer/defense, 2017-18)
Jason Senn (football/safety, 2015-18)
Mike Whitman (football/tight end, 1989-92)
– John Parker, gamecockarchives.com
6. ⌚ Key Events (Countdown)
• July 15 – SEC Media Days (today)
• July 16 – SEC Media Days (1 day)
• July 17 – SEC Media Days, USC's day (2)
• July 18 – SEC Media Days (3)
• July 18 – Baseball: Prospect camp (3)
• July 20 – Football: Ladies Clinic (5)
• Aug. 1 – Football: Media Day (17)
• Aug. 16 – Gamecock Club: Charleston Football Season Kick-Off Party (32)
• Aug. 17 – Baseball: Elite prospect camp (33)
• Aug. 22 – My Carolina Sports Preview (38)
• Aug. 22 – Carolina Calls feat. Muschamp (38)
• Aug. 31 – Football: Gamecocks vs UNC (47)
• Nov. 13 – Basketball: Early signing period (121)
• Dec. 18 – Football: Early signing period (156)
• Feb. 5 – Football: Regular signing period (205)
DID YOU KNOW? You can receive this report (Gamecocks Today) early each morning in your email inbox. Sign up here.
------------------------
GAMECOCKS TODAY!
Monday, July 15
Monday, July 15
Good morning from Gamecock Central.
SEC Media Days begin today and continue through Thursday.
We're 47 days away from the Gamecocks playing North Carolina.
1.4️⃣7️⃣ Countdown to Kickoff: 47 days!
Our countdown to South Carolina's 2019 season opener against North Carolina in Charlotte is now down to just 47 days meaning that today’s athlete is one of the newest to the team, redshirt sophomore Jordan Villafane.
Villafane was a standout receiver and defensive back in Pennsylvania, earning all-state honors at both positions in high school. He enrolled at Bloomsburg (Penn.) and started at defensive back as a freshman before transferring to South Carolina last fall.
He officially joined the football team as a walk-on this spring and will work with the scout team this fall.
– Will Helms
2. Three storylines for Day 1 of SEC Media Days
The annual spectacle that is SEC Media Days begins today and that means three SEC teams are set to face the media firing squad to discuss everything under the sun before preseason camp starts in three short weeks.
First up are Florida, LSU and Missouri, and all three programs offer some intriguing storylines for the 2019 season.
• What the heck is going on in Gainesville?
The first year of the Dan Mullen era at Florida ended with nothing but positive momentum as the Gators scored a come-from-behind win over the Gamecocks before blowout victories of Idaho, in-state rival FSU, and Michigan in the Peach Bowl. That was followed by signing a recruiting class that ranks eighth in the country on Rivals. But then, things got... weird.
While the number of transfers in college football seems to be growing at an accelerated rate, the fact that the Gators have now had nine players leave the program this offseason does at least pique one's interest. And that top-10 recruiting class has already lost four members, including QB Jalon Jones and five-star CB Chris Steele (who Gamecock fans will surely remember) with reports from Gainesville saying the Gators could lose three more signees to academics. Florida may be a darkhorse contender for the SEC East this season, but it's still been a strange offseason for the Gators.
• Can LSU contend with Alabama?
ESPN's Football Power Index, of course, has Alabama as the top team in the SEC West (and No. 2 team in the country), but the metric is also incredibly high on this year's LSU squad. The Tigers are considered the fourth best team in the country and the No. 2 team in the West. Is this the year that Ed Orgeron's bunch can unseat Nick Saban?
While the Tigers don't have a Tua Tagovailoa behind center, their quarterback situation does seem settled with Joe Burrow, who finished last year on a high and returns his top six receiving targets. LSU's offensive line, which returns a host of veterans, will need to be better this year after having some of the worst sacks allowed numbers in the conference last season.
The Tigers defense should be good, as it almost always is, with nine starters returning and another potential All-American in the secondary (what else is new?) in Grant Delpit. As always, the question will be, can the offense keep up?
• What is Kelly Bryant's impact on Missouri?
If there was any lingering doubt whether Missouri is now Kelly Bryant's team, head coach Barry Odom's decision to bring the graduate transfer quarterback to SEC Media Days should end that. The former Clemson dual-threat quarterback should bring an interesting element to both the Missouri offense with his knack for making big plays and the Missouri program with his experience in big games at Clemson.
After three-plus years of Drew Lock, the big-armed, pass-first quarterback, Missouri's offensive scheme will surely look different this season. The answer to just how different probably won't come until the ball is kicked off this fall, but still, it will be interesting to hear from Bryant about his transition to Missouri and approach to his senior season.
– Wes Mitchell
3. Five questions with Barrett Sallee
Barrett Sallee covers college football for CBS Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @BarrettSallee.
1) Alabama and Clemson have obviously been dominant in the sport of college football lately, each winning two of the last four national championships. Both are heavily favored to make the playoff again, do you think this dominance is good for the sport or would more parity be better?
People love to say that they hate that team or teams dominate sports, whether it be the New York Yankees, New England Patriots, Golden State Warriors or whoever on any given year. That’s a lie. Sports need those teams to draw attention, give others a bar to reach for and draw in viewers when they even get tested. What’s more, fans don’t really want Cinderella either. UMBC beating Virginia in the NCAA Tournament a few years back was awesome at the time, but nobody would tolerate them moving into the Sweet Sixteen or beyond. Clemson and Alabama being the gold standards creates parity between the two, and a level for the others to reach.
2) Going into the 2019 season, which team would you say is a sleeper to make the college football playoff? Other than the obvious Clemson, Alabama, Oklahoma, etc.
I assume Georgia and Ohio State are in that group as well, so I’ll go with Oregon. If the Ducks can get past Auburn in Week 1 -- which I don’t think will be too difficult -- then they have the ability to get through the Pac-12 either undefeated or with one loss. People might want to convince you otherwise, but one loss doesn’t eliminate Pac-12 teams. The Ducks have one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Justin Herbert, one of the top offensive lines in the country and a hard-nosed defense that should be one of the best in the conference.
3) Who is a coach at a smaller school who you believe could take the next step in the next few years and take a big job i.e. Tom Herman?
I assume Matt Campbell at Iowa State is out because he has a Power Five job already. That said, I’m on board with Luke Fickell at Cincinnati moving up in the near future. His one-year fill-in role at Ohio State isn’t indicative of how he coaches or what he’s done since then. If a job opens up -- especially in the midwest -- he’s going to kill it.
4) If you could change one rule in college football, what would it be?
I love college overtime rules. They are way better than the NFL. But I’d move the ball back to the 50-yard line instead of the 25-yard line. At least make the teams work to get into field goal range. I know that might put some extra stress on players who are already tired, but it will prevent some of those ultra-long overtime games.
5) With the well-documented difficulty of South Carolina’s schedule, what would you consider to be a success in Will Muschamp’s fourth season as the head coach?
If they get to a bowl game, maybe post a 7-5 record and look like they’re moving forward, that’s enough. It’s a slow build at South Carolina. Boom needs to keep recruiting, build even more depth along the defensive front and let the program be what he wants it to be.
– Jackson Fields
Max Iyama (Credit: Chris Gillespie)
4. This, that, and the other
Football: Iyama taking medical hardship - Former four-star recruit and current Gamecock lineman Max Iyama is taking a medical hardship and is no longer on the South Carolina football team, GamecockCentral.com has learned. (link)
Baseball: Berryhill signs with the Reds - On the final day for players to sign a professional contract, Luke Berryhill officially put pen to paper with the Cincinnati Reds Friday afternoon, GamecockCentral has learned. (link)
Football Recruiting: The Insider Report - The latest on USC's 2020 class of January enrollees, an update on Mohamed Kaba, and more. (subscription)
Football Recruiting: Phenom Florida running back talks USC - American Heritage High (Plantation, Fla.) took several prospects to a day session of Will Muschamp Football Camp in June. Among them was Mark Fletcher, a 2023 running back who now carries five major scholarship offers. (subscription)
Football and Baseball Recruiting: Malik Newton keeping South Carolina in mind after summer trip - The two-sport athlete camped in Columbia last month. What did he think? (subscription)
The Latest: Gauthier update - After a strong camp visit to South Carolina in June, this class of 2021 quarterback target hinted a decision could be one the way. We've got the latest on Gauither's decision timeline inside. (link)
Baseball: Two more Gamecocks are summer league all-stars - Noah Campbell and Dallas Beaver earn a prestigious all-star nod. (link)
Baseball: 2019 Baseball Season-in-Review - The 2019 University of South Carolina baseball team saw five players picked in the MLB First-Year Player Draft, including TJ Hopkins in the ninth round. (link)
Baseball Recruiting: McGregor 'just starting to scratch the surface' of his abilities - We caught up left-handed pitcher Will McGregor’s head coach at T.L. Hanna Daniel Crenshaw, who talked about McGregor battling through injuries and what he can bring to next year’s pitching staff. (subscription)
Women's Basketball: Getting to know Olivia Thompson - The sharp-shooting guard from Lexington High School recaps her recruitment, talks about playing for her state and more in this Q&A. (link)
Women's Basketball: Getting to know Destiny Littleton - Littleton transfers in from Texas to finish out her career. She recently delved deep into her struggles in Austin, what she could bring this year and what it's like to come in with so many talented freshmen. (link)
Women's Basketball: Staley receives Human Spirit Award - In recognition of her leadership on and off the court, Dawn Staley has been named a winner of the 2019 Mannie Jackson – Basketball's Human Spirit Award. (link)
– Jackson Fields
5. Events and Birthdays!
Happy Birthday to Ernest Dye - The brother of Gamecock defensive lineman Marty Dye, Ernest was named all-region and all-state as a senior at Greenwood and played in the Shrine Bowl. He went on to play two seasons at Itawamba Community College in Mississippi before joining his brother at Carolina in 1991. Dye was rated as USC's best offensive lineman in his two years as a starter and was named all-SEC in 1992. He also won the squad's Steve Wadiak MVP award and played in the Senior Bowl after the 1992 season. Dye was drafted in the first round by the Phoenix Cardinals in 1993 and played for them through 1996 then played one season with the St. Louis Rams. He lives in the Atlanta area now.
More Birthdays
Eric Davis (football/punter, 2008-10)
Mitchell Myers (soccer/defense, 2017-18)
Jason Senn (football/safety, 2015-18)
Mike Whitman (football/tight end, 1989-92)
– John Parker, gamecockarchives.com
6. ⌚ Key Events (Countdown)
• July 15 – SEC Media Days (today)
• July 16 – SEC Media Days (1 day)
• July 17 – SEC Media Days, USC's day (2)
• July 18 – SEC Media Days (3)
• July 18 – Baseball: Prospect camp (3)
• July 20 – Football: Ladies Clinic (5)
• Aug. 1 – Football: Media Day (17)
• Aug. 16 – Gamecock Club: Charleston Football Season Kick-Off Party (32)
• Aug. 17 – Baseball: Elite prospect camp (33)
• Aug. 22 – My Carolina Sports Preview (38)
• Aug. 22 – Carolina Calls feat. Muschamp (38)
• Aug. 31 – Football: Gamecocks vs UNC (47)
• Nov. 13 – Basketball: Early signing period (121)
• Dec. 18 – Football: Early signing period (156)
• Feb. 5 – Football: Regular signing period (205)
