2012 Statistics

ASST. COACHES

Co-Off. Coordinator/OL Coach: Shawn Elliott (4th season)
Previous: Appalachian State OL Coach

Co-Off. Coordinator/WR Coach: Steve Spurrier Jr. (9th season)
Previous: Arizona TE Coach

Def. Coordinator: Lorenzo Ward (5th season)
Previous: Arkansas DB Coach

Quarterbacks: G.A. Mangus (5th season)
Previous: Middle Tennessee Off. Coor./QB Coach

Running Backs: Everette Sands (2nd season)
Previous: NC State RB Coach

Tight Ends/Special Teams: Joe Robinson (2nd season)
Previous: North Carolina DL Coach

Defensive Line: Deke Adams (1st season)
Previous: North Carolina DL Coach

Linebackers: Kirk Botkin (2nd season)
Previous: Texarkana HS Asst. Coach

Defensive Backs: Grady Brown (2nd season)
Previous: Southern Miss CB Coach

    QUARTERBACK  

• It's been a roller coaster ride for now-senior Connor Shaw, a big time high school talent who at times does a real fine job throwing the ball and running with it. He is the team's leading returning rusher. On the other hand Shaw has a problem with interceptions.
• The Spurrier QB circus isn't over by a long shot. There are many who feel Dylan Thompson should still run the show, an argument that continues to linger in Columbia...nothing new for a Spurrier coached team. With Shaw nursing a foot injury this spring Thompson got his chance and looked good. He isn't the runner that Shaw is but Thompson is a better down field passer who can stretch the field. At the same time he is not near as accurate as Shaw. Hence, it looks like it's Connor Shaw to start the 2013 season.
• Redshirt frosh Brendan Nosovitch can both run and throw and looks to have a bright future here. Barring injury his time on the stage to play musical QBs will be in 2014. The Pennsylvania prep product holds the state's career record for total yards and is second all-time in state passing yards.

    RUNNING BACK  

• This was the SEC's next-to-last ranked rushing outfit in 2012. Not a good sign for a team that is so-so at throwing the ball.
• A compact Mike Davis (5'9, 215) is a bruising back who can carry the pigskin inside or out. Stepping in for the departed and oft-injured Marcus Lattimore, he looks like he could be the next great running back for the Gamecocks. He also has really nice hands making him a substantial weapon in the open field of the passing game.
• Brandon Wilds is going to get a share of the carries. Another physical rusher who got a few chances two years ago when getting thrown into the ring as the star Lattimore was out with injury. Wilds put up substantial numbers (137 yards vs. Tennessee and 120 yards vs. Florida) that season but decided to sit out last fall to keep his eligibility.
• Keep an eye on true freshman David Williams out of Philadelphia, PA. He can be a home run hitter and looks great in open space scoring 23 touchdowns and rushing for 1,904 as a high school senior.
• The depth department is well stocked. Much like at QB don't be surprised if the running game becomes a committee approach.

    RECEIVER  

• Despite the speed this has to be an area of concern. Like most SEC teams the receivers have some top rated talents but are way short on the production and proven playmakers. However, this may be the fasted group of receivers in the conference.
• With reception leader Ace Sanders declaring for the NFL, Bruce Ellington is the veteran of group who hauled in a team best 600 yards catching the rock. The 5'9 point guard on the basketball team is also the team's top man at going deep on the gridiron.
• Damiere Byrd is another speed burner who can go deep, one of the team's fastest players and a member of the track team, Byrd's production fell off in the second half of last season. He will fight for playing time with elite soph Shaq Roland, a top recruit a year ago coming in as South Carolina's Mr. Football.
• The tall and small package at the other spot is 6'4 Kwinton Smith (tall) and 5'7 Nick Jones (small). With good hands to match his size Smith could have gone anywhere to play ball. Jones is not quite as talented but has proven to be reliable.

    TIGHT END  

• With starter Justice Cunningham moving on Rory Anderson will be called upon. Anderson physically looks more like a wide receiver having recorded five touchdowns in 14 receptions. Backup Jerell Adams has the skills to see time. Neither have the weight to push around defensive linemen in the running game.

    OFFENSIVE LINE  

• This line has the potential to be a devastating force. Yet everyone in Columbia knows the drill...decent run blocking, poor pass protection many times and screams for a new line coach. Other than the musical quarterback debates this unit has haunted Spurrier's career.
• The unit if full of veterans but has to find a new leader at center to replace T.J. Johnson. Redshirt freshman Cody Waldrop takes over and has the versatility to play both guard and center.
• Massive Corey Robinson (6'8, 341) is a former defensive lineman who brings a physical attitude to the group. Extremely strong and a great run blocker but he has trouble with the quicker pass rushers. On the other side is NFL-caliber Brandon Shell, a big time recruit who earned Freshman All-American honors last fall.
• Guard A.J. Cann is back for his third year as a starter at one guard spot while the other will be manned by senior Ronald Patrick, who started every game last year. All these guys in the middle of the line are versatile and can play any position.
• This is a really huge wall and that's an understatement. No reason exists why this group cannot become a force even against the great SEC defenses. They just need to find an attitude and figure out a way to develop some pass protection skills.

    DEFENSIVE LINE  
- This front four should make life a nightmare for opposing offenses. There is speed, size and athleticism across the board to be dominant at both stuffing the run and getting after the passer. Three of these starters have NFL potential. One named Clowney could already be playing at that level.
- This was the nation's fifth ranked sack producer (first in the SEC). Those numbers won't change in 2013.
- Jadeveon Clowney - that is really all that needs to be said. The potential first overall NFL future draft pick will do all he can not to get injured while getting double and triple teamed. Yet that still may not be enough to stop this physical freak of nature from single-handedly beating opponents from his defensive end position.
- Getting the first shot at taking over on the other side is senior Chaz Sutton. One of the team's former top recruits Sutton has the size and burst to become another NFL prospect from this unit.
- Kelcy Quarles will be called upon to clog the middle again after an outstanding sophomore campaign last fall that helped this team become a typical SEC top level run stuffer. He's quick and can take the pounding against the run. He too has the tools to develop into an NFL prospect.
- Keep an eye on incoming recruit Kelsey Griffin. The four-star defensive tackle has the pass rush skills to become a shooting star.
- If there is to be a weakness picked out maybe the lack of depth could be a concern. With three top contributors moving on it may take a while for coaches to come up with the combination they feel most comfortable with.

    LINEBACKER  
- A whopping five linebackers from last year graduated. If there is an unknown factor on this team here is where the concern lies.
- Tradition dictates that no matter the personnel losses the Gamecocks will be fine on this side of the ball. With some luck in the health department all should turn out well once coaches settle in on a starting rotation and the players get their feet wet.
- The big jump this spring was the play of Kaiwan Lewis in the middle. Lewis only garnered time with the special teams last fall as a true freshman. He has the range but has to prove he can continue the same spring pace through an entire season. T.J. Holloman will battle Lewis at this spot. The former high school quarterback has the tremendous speed to blossom into a premier defender.
- The health of Cedrick Cooper, who is still trying to come back from a knee injury suffered in the bowl game, is a crucial element. He is expected to be one of the team's leading tacklers from the weakside.
- The Spur position is a hybrid safety and strongside linebacker. The smallish Sharrod Golightly covers well and can also play the nickel spot. Jordan Diggs is the more purest of the two when it comes to tackling.
- These linebackers can best be described as The Fly Boys...they are small but can fly. They just need some experience.

    DEFENSIVE BACKS  
- This secondary was extraordinary a year ago and didn't give up the big play. With three starters coming back to go with a great pass rush the production should continue.
- Cornerback is where the story begins. Veteran studs Victor Hampton and Jimmy Legree can hang with anything the SEC throws at them. Both have All-SEC potential.
- Brison Williams takes over full-time at strong safety after overcoming a broken arm that cost him the bulk of the 2011 season. He is like an extra linebacker on the field.
- Replacing free safety D.J. Swearinger was the first order of business. Kadetrix Marcus gets the nod. He's a great tackler and could also play the strong safety spot. The good news is that Marcus was considered the Most Improved defensive back during the spring.