B
Brian Shoemaker
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Gamecocks Today
- Wednesday, May 29, 2019 -
Good morning from Gamecock Central.
We're 94 days away from the Gamecocks playing North Carolina.
__________________________________
1. 9️⃣4️⃣ Countdown to kickoff: 94 days!
It's now just 94 days until South Carolina kicks off its 2019 football season against North Carolina and we're going to count down the days here with you on Gamecocks Today.
Today's countdown features former South Carolina defensive lineman Preston Thorne, who wore No. 94.
A Summerville High graduate, Thorne played for South Caroluna under head coach Lou Holtz from 2000-04.
More recently, Thorne and fellow former Gamecock Langston Moore have teamed up to write two children’s books, #JustaChicken and #JustaChickenLittle. The duo is also touring the state visiting schools to promote reading.
Check out the book at justachickenthebook.com
– Wes Mitchell
2. Who does MarShawn Lloyd compare to?
South Carolina landed its first five-star commitment of the 2020 class on Monday when Hyattsville (Md.) Dematha running back MarShawn Lloyd pledged to the program.
But what type of back are the Gamecocks getting? Rivals.com recently made comparisons for the top running back prospects in the country and came up with a strong one for the most recent Carolina commit.
Comparison: Arizona State running back Eno Benjamin
Rivals Overview: One of the biggest surprises in college football last season was Benjamin, who had a breakout season with 1,642 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns along with 35 catches and two scores. He was a dream addition to college fantasy football rosters as well.
Lloyd could have a similar college career to Benjamin since they’re both about the same size even if Lloyd is a little more physically developed. The five-star can run between the tackles, stop on a dime to make defenders miss or even line up in the slot and make things happen that way.
Benjamin wasn’t as big of a name coming out of high school but he has produced at Arizona State. Lloyd could be the same player in the coming years.
Our Take: First of all, if you're not familiar with Benjamin's game, do yourself a favor and watch some of his many highlight clips on YouTube. He's probably one of the most under appreciated players in the country to East Coast viewers and will be must-see TV this upcoming season.
But watching Lloyd's highlights (click here), it's easy to see why the comparison was made. The two backs are listed at almost identical sizes in high school and have similar explosive but powerful running styles. They both also have great one-cut ability in the open field.
If you're looking for a closer-to-home comparison, then Lloyd will remind you a bit of former South Carolina running back Mike Davis, who played for the Gamecocks from 2012-14, as they were both physical, aggressive runners, though they aren't identical by any stretch.
Either way, if Lloyd ends up being a similar college talent to either player, South Carolina fans will be very happy.
3. This, that, and the other
Football Recruiting: Coach's corner, MarShawn Lloyd - Gamecock Central spoke with MarShawn Lloyd's high school coach to get more insight into his game and what he brings to the field. (subscription)
Football Recruiting: What MarShawn Lloyd's commitment means for the Gamecocks - South Carolina landed its highest ranked commitment of the 2020 class Monday when Hyattsville (Md.) Dematha five-star running back MarShawn Lloyd announced his pledge on Twitter. We break down what the commitment means. (subscription)
Men's Basketball: Lawson returning for sophomore season - USC's 2019-20 roster picked up a big boost, not from a commitment but by a key player deciding to return to the fold. (link)
Men's Basketball: Season tickets on sale - USC announced on Tuesday that season-ticket deposits for the upcoming 2019-20 season of Gamecock men's basketball are currently being accepted. (link)
Men's Basketball Recruiting: Latest on four-star target Earl Timberlake - The latest on South Carolina men's basketball four-star target Earl Timberlake, Marshawn Lloyd's classmate. (subscription)
Women's Basketball: Season tickets on sale - Season tickets for 2019-20 are on sale now through the Gamecock Ticket Office with prices starting as low as $45 for all regular-season games. Fans who purchase or renew their reserved seat tickets by the Aug. 14 deadline will be able to select their seats online. (link)
Baseball: Cullen details struggles with injuries - The Gamecocks' first baseman goes in-depth about his injury struggles. (link)
Softball: 2019 season in review - South Carolina closed the 2019 season with a 38-19 record having advanced to its fourth-straight regional final under Beverly Smith. (link)
Men's Tennis: Paul Jubb on his journey to a national championship - Paul Jubb was 15 years old when South Carolina head coach Josh Goffi first heard his name. He was 16 when Goffi followed a tip from a friend and traveled from London to Hull, England, to watch him play. (link)
Women's Soccer: Gamecocks unveil 2019 Schedule - Head coach Shelley Smith announced her team's 2019 schedule, which includes 18 matches, including nine at Stone Stadium. (link)
Track & Field: Pair selected to academic all-district team - Arinze Chance and Allie Mueller were named to the 2018-19 Google Cloud Academic All-District Team for track & field and cross country. (link)
– Jackson Fields
4. This Date in Gamecock History
May 29, 2009 – South Carolina rolled over George Mason, 11-3, in the first game of an NCAA Regional in Greenville, N.C.
5. Birthdays!
Mark Wiltse - After playing for the youth U.S. National Team and being named of the top-15 players at the adidas Elite Soccer Program, Wiltse would make an immediate impact as a freshman at USC. He made 15 starts and was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team. Wiltse scored two goals and two had assists as a sophomore in 2007, including an assist on an overtime game-winning goal against Kentucky. He was named third-team All-Conference USA, a feat he repeated in 2008. Wiltse was a co-captain of the 2009 squad, but suffered a season-ending leg injury in the first game. He bounced back as a fifth-year senior in 2010, starting 21 games and getting a game-winning goal against Memphis. He also assisted on the game-winner against Clemson. He went on to play three seasons in the USL for the Charleston Battery.
Brady Cormier (football/kicker, 2016)
Benny Burch (football/offensive guard, 1971-72)
TJ Shook (baseball/pitcher, 2017-19)
Lanard Stafford (football/fullback, 2004-07)
– John Parker, gamecockarchives.com
6. ⌚ Key Events (Countdown)
• June 3 – MLB Draft, Day 1 (5 days)
• June 4 – MLB Draft, Day 2 (6)
• June 5 – MLB Draft, Day 3 (7)
• June 6 – Football: One-day camp (8)
• June 7 – Football: One-day camp (9)
• June 8 – Football: One-day camp (10)
• June 13 – Football: OL/DL camps (15)
• June 13 – Football: 7-on-7 passing tourney (15)
• June 14 – Football: OL/DL camps (16)
• June 14 – Football: 7-on-7 passing tourney (16)
• June 15 – Football: One-day camp (17)
• June 19 – Football: One-day camp (21)
• June 20 – Football: One-day camp (22)
• June 21 – Football: One-day camp (23)
• June 22 – Football: One-day camp (24)
• June 22 – Football: Specialists camp (24)
• July 15 – SEC Media Days, Day 1 (47)
• July 16 – SEC Media Days, Day 2 (48)
• July 17 – SEC Media Days, Day 3 (49)
• July 18 – SEC Media Days, Day 4 (50)
• July 20 – Ladies Football Clinic (52)
• Aug. 31 – Football: Gamecocks vs UNC (94)
DID YOU KNOW? You can receive this report (Gamecocks Today) early each morning in your email inbox. Sign up here.
------------------------
Gamecocks Today
- Wednesday, May 29, 2019 -
Good morning from Gamecock Central.
We're 94 days away from the Gamecocks playing North Carolina.
__________________________________
1. 9️⃣4️⃣ Countdown to kickoff: 94 days!
It's now just 94 days until South Carolina kicks off its 2019 football season against North Carolina and we're going to count down the days here with you on Gamecocks Today.
Today's countdown features former South Carolina defensive lineman Preston Thorne, who wore No. 94.
A Summerville High graduate, Thorne played for South Caroluna under head coach Lou Holtz from 2000-04.
More recently, Thorne and fellow former Gamecock Langston Moore have teamed up to write two children’s books, #JustaChicken and #JustaChickenLittle. The duo is also touring the state visiting schools to promote reading.
Check out the book at justachickenthebook.com
– Wes Mitchell
2. Who does MarShawn Lloyd compare to?
South Carolina landed its first five-star commitment of the 2020 class on Monday when Hyattsville (Md.) Dematha running back MarShawn Lloyd pledged to the program.
But what type of back are the Gamecocks getting? Rivals.com recently made comparisons for the top running back prospects in the country and came up with a strong one for the most recent Carolina commit.
Comparison: Arizona State running back Eno Benjamin
Rivals Overview: One of the biggest surprises in college football last season was Benjamin, who had a breakout season with 1,642 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns along with 35 catches and two scores. He was a dream addition to college fantasy football rosters as well.
Lloyd could have a similar college career to Benjamin since they’re both about the same size even if Lloyd is a little more physically developed. The five-star can run between the tackles, stop on a dime to make defenders miss or even line up in the slot and make things happen that way.
Benjamin wasn’t as big of a name coming out of high school but he has produced at Arizona State. Lloyd could be the same player in the coming years.
Our Take: First of all, if you're not familiar with Benjamin's game, do yourself a favor and watch some of his many highlight clips on YouTube. He's probably one of the most under appreciated players in the country to East Coast viewers and will be must-see TV this upcoming season.
But watching Lloyd's highlights (click here), it's easy to see why the comparison was made. The two backs are listed at almost identical sizes in high school and have similar explosive but powerful running styles. They both also have great one-cut ability in the open field.
If you're looking for a closer-to-home comparison, then Lloyd will remind you a bit of former South Carolina running back Mike Davis, who played for the Gamecocks from 2012-14, as they were both physical, aggressive runners, though they aren't identical by any stretch.
Either way, if Lloyd ends up being a similar college talent to either player, South Carolina fans will be very happy.
- Related: 2020 Gamecock Commitment List
3. This, that, and the other
Football Recruiting: Coach's corner, MarShawn Lloyd - Gamecock Central spoke with MarShawn Lloyd's high school coach to get more insight into his game and what he brings to the field. (subscription)
Football Recruiting: What MarShawn Lloyd's commitment means for the Gamecocks - South Carolina landed its highest ranked commitment of the 2020 class Monday when Hyattsville (Md.) Dematha five-star running back MarShawn Lloyd announced his pledge on Twitter. We break down what the commitment means. (subscription)
Men's Basketball: Lawson returning for sophomore season - USC's 2019-20 roster picked up a big boost, not from a commitment but by a key player deciding to return to the fold. (link)
Men's Basketball: Season tickets on sale - USC announced on Tuesday that season-ticket deposits for the upcoming 2019-20 season of Gamecock men's basketball are currently being accepted. (link)
Men's Basketball Recruiting: Latest on four-star target Earl Timberlake - The latest on South Carolina men's basketball four-star target Earl Timberlake, Marshawn Lloyd's classmate. (subscription)
Women's Basketball: Season tickets on sale - Season tickets for 2019-20 are on sale now through the Gamecock Ticket Office with prices starting as low as $45 for all regular-season games. Fans who purchase or renew their reserved seat tickets by the Aug. 14 deadline will be able to select their seats online. (link)
Baseball: Cullen details struggles with injuries - The Gamecocks' first baseman goes in-depth about his injury struggles. (link)
Softball: 2019 season in review - South Carolina closed the 2019 season with a 38-19 record having advanced to its fourth-straight regional final under Beverly Smith. (link)
Men's Tennis: Paul Jubb on his journey to a national championship - Paul Jubb was 15 years old when South Carolina head coach Josh Goffi first heard his name. He was 16 when Goffi followed a tip from a friend and traveled from London to Hull, England, to watch him play. (link)
Women's Soccer: Gamecocks unveil 2019 Schedule - Head coach Shelley Smith announced her team's 2019 schedule, which includes 18 matches, including nine at Stone Stadium. (link)
Track & Field: Pair selected to academic all-district team - Arinze Chance and Allie Mueller were named to the 2018-19 Google Cloud Academic All-District Team for track & field and cross country. (link)
– Jackson Fields
4. This Date in Gamecock History
May 29, 2009 – South Carolina rolled over George Mason, 11-3, in the first game of an NCAA Regional in Greenville, N.C.
- George Mason would score first, but the Gamecocks took over the game in the fourth inning as Jackie Bradley Jr. scored on an error, Parker Bangs hit a two-run homer and Whit Merrifield drove in a run with a single.
- Merrifield later added a two-run single, while Bradley had a two-run home run and Nick Ebert added his 23rd home run of the year.
- On the mound Sam Dyson went seven innings, allowing three runs and picking up his ninth win, while Curtis Johnson allowed just one hit in pitching two innings of scoreless relief.
- The win set up a game with host East Carolina in the winner's bracket.
5. Birthdays!
Mark Wiltse - After playing for the youth U.S. National Team and being named of the top-15 players at the adidas Elite Soccer Program, Wiltse would make an immediate impact as a freshman at USC. He made 15 starts and was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team. Wiltse scored two goals and two had assists as a sophomore in 2007, including an assist on an overtime game-winning goal against Kentucky. He was named third-team All-Conference USA, a feat he repeated in 2008. Wiltse was a co-captain of the 2009 squad, but suffered a season-ending leg injury in the first game. He bounced back as a fifth-year senior in 2010, starting 21 games and getting a game-winning goal against Memphis. He also assisted on the game-winner against Clemson. He went on to play three seasons in the USL for the Charleston Battery.
Brady Cormier (football/kicker, 2016)
Benny Burch (football/offensive guard, 1971-72)
TJ Shook (baseball/pitcher, 2017-19)
Lanard Stafford (football/fullback, 2004-07)
– John Parker, gamecockarchives.com
6. ⌚ Key Events (Countdown)
• June 3 – MLB Draft, Day 1 (5 days)
• June 4 – MLB Draft, Day 2 (6)
• June 5 – MLB Draft, Day 3 (7)
• June 6 – Football: One-day camp (8)
• June 7 – Football: One-day camp (9)
• June 8 – Football: One-day camp (10)
• June 13 – Football: OL/DL camps (15)
• June 13 – Football: 7-on-7 passing tourney (15)
• June 14 – Football: OL/DL camps (16)
• June 14 – Football: 7-on-7 passing tourney (16)
• June 15 – Football: One-day camp (17)
• June 19 – Football: One-day camp (21)
• June 20 – Football: One-day camp (22)
• June 21 – Football: One-day camp (23)
• June 22 – Football: One-day camp (24)
• June 22 – Football: Specialists camp (24)
• July 15 – SEC Media Days, Day 1 (47)
• July 16 – SEC Media Days, Day 2 (48)
• July 17 – SEC Media Days, Day 3 (49)
• July 18 – SEC Media Days, Day 4 (50)
• July 20 – Ladies Football Clinic (52)
• Aug. 31 – Football: Gamecocks vs UNC (94)
