2005 Statistics

Quarterback
Blake Mitchell is a drop-back hurler with a sound arm and good mechanics. But it took a former Heisman-winning quarterback (from 1966) to realize the junior's potential. Mitchell will be asked to do a lot, as Spurrier has traditionally demanded such of returning quarterbacks. Mitchell, a junior, won't win any sprints, but he will effectively lead this offense. Mitchell is now seasoned and therefore will be more comfortable in the Spurrier system, which puts heavy demand on accuracy and decision-making. Of biggest concern is his ability to stay on his feet with a new line (was sacked 30 times last year). Spurrier has paid particular attention to redshirt-freshman Cade Thompson. Thompson came to USC with a relatively lofty prep resume — 43-1 record as a high school starter and a 35-to-4 touchdown-to-INT ratio his senior year (Tennessee Division 4-A Player of the Year award). Thompson looked better in the final spring game, but his lack of experience at this level would cause the offense to step back.

Running Back
With no experience in the backfield last season, the Gamecocks' running game struggled to place 108th in the nation. Sophomore Mike Davis now seems well adjusted as proven by the way he looked to end the last campaign. What becomes of Davis now that redshirt junior Cory Boyd is back? Boyd missed last season because of suspension while Davis got the playing time, and their individual battle will be heated – advantage Gamecocks. Look for both to get carries and rotate so fresh legs will always be plentiful. The power of Davis seems to mean he is the better and more polished runner (4.46 in the 40), especially between the tackles), while ex-two-way guy (DB in prep; 4.5 in the 40) Boyd is the better athlete. Bobby Wallace provides marginal depth here – the sophomore was not nearly as good as his prep résumé suggests, and needs to bulk/toughen up to have more impact. FB Lanard Stafford walked on in 2004 and this converted-lineman can take out any sized DLman in his way. Since Stafford is not a runner, look for true freshman Clark Gaston (4.6 40 time) to see carries, as Spurrier uses his other backs quite often. This unit will rebound nicely.

Receiver
Sidney Rice, the sensational sophomore and gem of this team, is one of the best players in the country, regardless of position. A preseason second-team Nationalchamps.net All-American selection, this 6’4” Gaffney-native will garner double-teams - he can distract enough attention without even getting the ball to make the rest of the talent positions better. With amazing athletic ability (South Carolina’s basketball Player of the Year as a prep senior) and hands of gold, Rice just has to stay another year past this one to become the nation’s best WR. What is in question, however, is how Rice will heal a broken thumb suffered during spring ball. Kenny McKinley is an ideal second option to Rice, and will have a breakout campaign as he grows from his modest showing as a freshman. Neither is a burner, but both find ways to be open and gain YAC galore. Behind Rice and McKinley is a stable of athletic receivers: senior Noah Whiteside is a proven deep threat as a career reserve and should also have impact after injury (broken ankle) limited his efforts last year; O.J. Murdock (sub-4.4 speed) is also part of the future as this freshman gets his first taste of action; and Freddie Brown, a 6’4” frosh, also has to prove his way into more action. Senior Syvelle Newton, effective when he sneaks under center or takes a handoff, finished second to Rice for total receptions. But the Wallace-native was held out of spring ball as he bounces back from a torn Achilles and could be redshirted with so many qualified reserves. Like many Spurrier WR stables at UF, this group is too stacked for all of those qualified to see enough action – a good problem to have if no one transfers.

Tight End
RS freshman Jared Cook has been asked to move here so the sudden loss of Carson Askins can be offset. Cook isn’t close to being big enough to make necessary blocks, but senior Andy Boyd (recovering from torn ACL) and juniors David Laggis and Rob Pavlovic are. Any of these three is capable of making it into an open area (especially in goal line situations) and burning foes, but Cook regularly going over the middle is what we will see the most.

Offensive Line
Offensive line coach John Hunt will have his work cut out as three of his starters have departed, though seven potential replacements are on the way. The patchwork unit will have its rough spots early, as unfamiliarity with each other will show, but not for long. Senior center Chris White will be asked to shoulder most of the leadership role and can do so after starting 28 games (all 12 in ’05), though most of his action has been at guard. Junior Will Brown needs to recover from his back injury, for he started last campaign and will again if healthy (junior Jared Thompson is slated otherwise, and is no slouch). Thomas Coleman similarly started four games inside, and (any combination of) these three would be a good nucleus. Sophomore Gurminder Thind will handle the blindside at left tackle, so watch for excessive sacks if he doesn’t catch on quickly. Junior guard Jamon Meredith has the footwork and speed (and mind as a former-DE) to handle rush ends from his new right tackle spot. Three new four-star recruits – Garrett Anderson (No.8 prospect at guard), proven JUCO-transfer Clarence Bailey, and hulking Kevin Young – join two upperclassmen as quality depth/reserves. This line should come together quickly and be all they can be for Spurrier to achieve with any dimension.

OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
Mitchell has made mistakes, but has also grown to make strides in the “fun’n’gun” system and soon his success will become another notch in Spurrier’s legacy. Backup QB Thompson seems to get this approach even more. With a superstar in Rice who still has not reached his full potential and a deep, talented receiving corps that will prosper from the double-teams opposing secondaries will have to employ on Rice, the USC offense will likely have more of a big-play dimension this season. And as Davis and Boyd provide a 1-2 running punch, this offense will not be stopped easily. But in the SEC, the conference where the best defenses consistently reside, Spurrier (also their offensive coordinator) could also struggle with his revamped line. Better teams on paper, with all the promise in the world, have done poorly here, so nothing is assured until proven, and finishing 100th (ranking for total offense) in the nation last campaign means the old ball coach has a long way to go. Simply put, there is a huge range as to where the Gamecocks could land within their ability to move the football. We are looking for a good showing, but consistency is the key to USC challenging for their conference half.

Defensive Line
Much like the offensive line, the defensive front four will have to come together quickly despite little experience. As a whole, the ends are undersized, though converted-LB Jordin Lindsey can stop the run as he holds the corner well. Soph Dakota Walker has much promise seeing how he achieved 3.5 sacks out of his 13 tackles in 2005. His upside will kick in as he now starts opposite Lindsey. Ryan Brown will rotate in for either and continue to produce, though there is no experience (two RS freshmen at least add size) behind him as far as quality depth on the outside. New starter Marque Hall has not lived up to his promise, but fellow junior (331lb.) nose tackle Stanley Doughty will barrel through the opposition and keep doing it all day. Incoming frosh Kenrick Ellis should have an impact if not redshirted. For a unit that surrendered more than four yards per carry and more than 2,000 yards on the ground (ranked 87th as run stoppers last season), the horizon should brighten some as this DL comes together.

Linebacker
This corps features two ball-hawks, one with a nose for following the play and one masher with a nose for contact. Still, replacing USC’s three top producers (at LB) won’t prove easy, and this undersized crew has its work cut out. At the outside positions, “stinger” Marvin Sapp and “wolf” Cody Wells provide tremendous ability in sniffing out lateral plays. Wells is tremendously athletic and keen, having played running back and defensive back in high school, while Sapp brings an experienced and acute knowledge of the position’s subtleties. Both are solid tacklers, but neither (nor the rest of the reserves on the outside) is big enough to truly take on mobile 300+-sized OLmen, of which the SEC has plenty. The need for better run stopping could ostensibly suffer. But with their demure size, we will see excellent coverage continue underneath. Their new starter at MLB, JUCO-transfer Jasper Brinkley, is cut in the mold of all the great SEC linebackers — big, burly and surly. His lack of I-A experience will result in some early missteps, but he’ll be one of the best linebackers in the conference once he gets his bearings. Among the back-ups, only Yvan Banag stands out. Though only 5’9”, this converted-DB plays much bigger - Banag has sideline-to-sideline speed and will impress.

Defensive Back
Cornerback Fred Bennett returns for his third year as a starter and is the leader of this secondary. Bennett gets the job done from his side, and will show super-quick converted-WR Carlos Thomas how he can make the most of his huge talents. Stoney Woodsen is the only proven backup here, so any (rash of) injuries would impact coverage. The safeties are a bit more of a question mark, though senior Brandon Isaac is a tremendous athlete who will “rove” as he covers ground and uses his 6’2” frame to smother when in coverages. Isaac replaces an all-American (Ko Simpson), so his role is huge. Mychal Belcher is but a sophomore who has to produce like the starter he has become in only his first true campaign. Juniors Chris Hampton (started five games in ’05) and Ty Erving will see time as Belcher missteps – and if Mychal doesn’t have any failings, this secondary will see much less drop off. Regardless, this speaks volumes for the depth at either safety slot. Practicing against Spurrier’s complex offensive schemes will give this unit a leg up against the SEC quality foes that will surely challenge them often. Finishing ranked 22nd in pass defense won’t be repeated, but this can be an effective unit if they keep the play in front of them and take fewer risks.

DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
There are three things in football no one can teach: size, speed and experience. This defense lacks two of the three. The front seven is meager at best, and the entire unit has only four returning starters. Speed is plentiful, but this unit will struggle to handle the kinds of bumps and bruises their rough conference provides weekly. There are certainly NFL-caliber players, but they’ll be hard to find unless this unit gels early. An improved pass-rush last season was a good sign of things to come, but as this group struggles to stop anything less than a Mack truck from getting past the line, things won’t get much better, and then they will again be on the field 32+ minutes per game. This D finished 47th (total yards), and whether they rank higher (which we feel they will) or lower will dictate how far the whole Gamecock squad goes. If they can improve in only one stat – allowing foes 41% of their third-down conversions – they can help make this a stronger campaign.