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Wes Mitchell
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South Carolina special teams and linebackers coach Coleman Hutzler spoke to the media today and had the following to say...
** Have to create a culture and a buy-in with your special teams. There are guys scratching and clawing for starting spots on the special teams units. Lucky to have a coach like Muschamp who creates that culture and he is sitting in the front row of all special teams meetings. The guys understand the importance.
** A.J. Turner, Shi Smith, Josh Vann, Rico Dowdle and Bryan Edwards are all competing at kickoff returner. Haven't named a guy yet, but like the competition there.
** Edwards has the most experience at punt returner, but also looking at Vann, Shi Smith and Xavier Legette there.
** Joseph Charlton is doing great as the holder. He and Parker White have been in sync.
** Right now, the starting linebackers are T.J. Brunson and Ernest Jones. Sherrod Greene is dealing with a concussion.
** Feel better about the depth at LB this year. Brunson shouldn't have to play 900 snaps in a season. Asked the guys Day 1, whose fault is that? Hutzler says he raised his hand, but then Ernest Jones and Rosendo Louis and Damani Staley did too. As a group, understand the disappointment in stopping the run last year both as a linebacking corps and as a defense and that's been a point of emphasis this offseason.
** Jahmar Brown has done some good things. He's flashed. He's playing a number of positions, SAM and WILL. He's gained 20 pounds since he got here. There's not an ounce of fat on him. He's going to be a good player. The sky is the limit for him.
** Derek Boykins is working at the MIKE. He's been inconsistent but has done some good things. The spring was good for him.
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** Ernest Jones, now working with the 1s at MIKE, says he's way more comfortable relaying the plays now than he was before. Working there all spring, with Brunson out, has helped his comfort level this year. He's also worked on his speed this offseason. Being hurt early last year reminded him just how much he loves the game and he's going to do everything he can do be on the field and hold up his end of the bargain. Seems to relish the fact that he gets everyone lined up. Jones if fully healthy now and in the best shape of his life.
** Rosendo Louis is working at the SAM and the MIKE and says he's fully healthy.
**Javon Kinlaw is sitting at 300 pounds right now and wants to get up to 310 at some point during the season. He's at 16 percent body fat, the lowest he's ever been at.
**Said he feels different this year and much healthier coming off hip surgery. He played with that hip injury for a while and now feels a lot better than he did last season.
**Kinlaw's daughter, Eden, was born four months ago and completely changed his perspective on things and understands he's playing for something much bigger than himself now.
**Jabari Ellis has been taking reps inside and out this fall and says he's been playing a lot better as camp goes on. Said he feels really comfortable right now.
** Have to create a culture and a buy-in with your special teams. There are guys scratching and clawing for starting spots on the special teams units. Lucky to have a coach like Muschamp who creates that culture and he is sitting in the front row of all special teams meetings. The guys understand the importance.
** A.J. Turner, Shi Smith, Josh Vann, Rico Dowdle and Bryan Edwards are all competing at kickoff returner. Haven't named a guy yet, but like the competition there.
** Edwards has the most experience at punt returner, but also looking at Vann, Shi Smith and Xavier Legette there.
** Joseph Charlton is doing great as the holder. He and Parker White have been in sync.
** Right now, the starting linebackers are T.J. Brunson and Ernest Jones. Sherrod Greene is dealing with a concussion.
** Feel better about the depth at LB this year. Brunson shouldn't have to play 900 snaps in a season. Asked the guys Day 1, whose fault is that? Hutzler says he raised his hand, but then Ernest Jones and Rosendo Louis and Damani Staley did too. As a group, understand the disappointment in stopping the run last year both as a linebacking corps and as a defense and that's been a point of emphasis this offseason.
** Jahmar Brown has done some good things. He's flashed. He's playing a number of positions, SAM and WILL. He's gained 20 pounds since he got here. There's not an ounce of fat on him. He's going to be a good player. The sky is the limit for him.
** Derek Boykins is working at the MIKE. He's been inconsistent but has done some good things. The spring was good for him.
_______________
** Ernest Jones, now working with the 1s at MIKE, says he's way more comfortable relaying the plays now than he was before. Working there all spring, with Brunson out, has helped his comfort level this year. He's also worked on his speed this offseason. Being hurt early last year reminded him just how much he loves the game and he's going to do everything he can do be on the field and hold up his end of the bargain. Seems to relish the fact that he gets everyone lined up. Jones if fully healthy now and in the best shape of his life.
** Rosendo Louis is working at the SAM and the MIKE and says he's fully healthy.
**Javon Kinlaw is sitting at 300 pounds right now and wants to get up to 310 at some point during the season. He's at 16 percent body fat, the lowest he's ever been at.
**Said he feels different this year and much healthier coming off hip surgery. He played with that hip injury for a while and now feels a lot better than he did last season.
**Kinlaw's daughter, Eden, was born four months ago and completely changed his perspective on things and understands he's playing for something much bigger than himself now.
**Jabari Ellis has been taking reps inside and out this fall and says he's been playing a lot better as camp goes on. Said he feels really comfortable right now.
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