Gamecocks Spring Practice Central: Thursday schedule update
Thursday, 3/12 Update: South Carolina’s spring practice has been delayed until further notice.
----------
The South Carolina football team officially kicks off its spring football camp for 2020 and Gamecock Central will have complete, in-depth coverage including updates, feature stories, analysis, podcasts, videos and photos.
This landing page will serve as a hub for all of our spring practice content and will also always feature the practice schedule.
RECENT CONTENT:
(A complete archive spring practice content along with a schedule can be seen below)
- Two players taking bulk of first-team reps at center
- Bobo counting on newcomer skill players to help (subscribers)
- Freshman Doty impressing coaches, teammates
- The single biggest improvement for Ryan Hilinski this offseason
- Coaches weigh in on potential new transfer rule
- Practice Insider: 3/5 (subscribers)
POSITION-BY-POSITON BREAKDOWN
Quarterback | Defensive line | Running back | Tight end (This will be updated with each position throughout the spring)
For a limited time only, get 50 percent off your first year of an annual subscription to Gamecock Central!
Visit the subscription page, enter the promo code “GAMECOCKS” to see the important terms and get your first year for just $49.95, and begin your new subscription! (Already registered as a user? Sign in and start here)
SOUTH CAROLINA FOOTBALL PRACTICE/MEDIA SCHEDULE - SPRING 2020
Tuesday, February 25 Head coach Will Muschamp press conference - 11 am, Media Room Long Ops Center
- Gamecock football January enrollees added to roster
- VIDEO: South Carolina coach Will Muschamp previews spring practice
- Live updates: Will Muschamp pre-spring practice presser
- Gamecock football injury report for spring practice
- The plan for Rod Wilson this spring
- The most intriguing position for Gamecock football this spring
Wednesday, February 26 Practice #1 - Flex and first three periods open to media
- Observations, notes and thoughts: Spring Practice No. 1 (Subscribers only)
- Photos: Gamecocks begin Spring Practice
- First look: Gamecocks QB Luke Doty working with Mike Bobo
- Live Gamecock football spring practice updates (Subscribers only)
- Another Carolina Podcast: First Day of Spring and Offensive Preview
- Biggest storylines on the offensive line
Friday, February 28 Practice #2 - Closed
- The defensive backfield plan this spring
- Muschamp: 'It's huge to have Bryan (McClendon) back'
- Five areas Will Muschamp wants to see improve
- Another Carolina Podcast: First Day of Spring and Offensive Preview
Sunday, March 1 Practice #3 - Closed
Head coach Will Muschamp available after practice in the media room, Long Ops Center
- VIDEO: Will Muschamp after spring practice No. 3
- NOTES: What Will Muschamp had to say on Sunday (subscribers)
Monday, March 2 Offensive players available after team meetings, Jerri and Steve Spurrier Indoor Facility
- Ryan Hilinski evaluates freshman season, talks Mike Bobo
- VIDEO: Ryan Hilinski speaks for the first time as a Gamecock
- NOTES: Gamecock players talk spring football
Tuesday, March 3 Practice #4 - Flex and first three periods open to media
DC Travaris Robinson available after practice in the media room, Long Ops Center
- Dakereon Joyner: 'This is home'
- VIDEO: Travaris Robinson on Gamecocks spring practice
- NOTES: Travaris Robinson talks Gamecock football spring practice (subscribers)
- Tuesday practice updates (subscribers)
Wednesday, March 4 Defensive players available after team meetings, Jerri and Steve Spurrier Indoor Facility
- Another Carolina Podcast: More Spring News and Defensive Depth Chart
- NOTES: Defensive players talk spring practice (subscribers)
- Teammates share first impressions of MarShawn Lloyd
Thursday, March 5 Practice #5 - Flex and first three periods open to media
OC Mike Bobo available after practice in the media room, Long Ops Center
- Practice Insider: 3/5 (subscribers)
- Photos: Thursday football workout
- Mike Bobo gives first impressions of offense this spring
- NOTES: In-depth with offensive coordinator Mike Bobo on Gamecocks' offense (subscribers)
- Thursday spring practice updates
- Carolina Confidential - More visitors on deck (subscribers)
- VIDEO: Mike Bobo speaks for first time
March 8 - 14 Spring Break - No media availability
Tuesday, March 17 Practice #6 - Closed
- Two players taking bulk of first-team reps at center
- Bobo counting on newcomer skill players to help (subscribers)
- Freshman Doty impressing coaches, teammates
- The single biggest improvement for Ryan Hilinski this offseason
- Coaches weigh in on potential new transfer rule
New offensive assistant coach(es) available after practice in the media room, Long Ops Center
Wednesday, March 18 Practice #7 - Closed
New defensive assistant coach(es) available after practice in the media room, Long Ops Center
Thursday, March 19 Pro Timing Day - Jerri and Steve Spurrier Indoor Practice Facility
Head coach Muschamp and players working out for Pro Day available at the indoor facility
Friday, March 20 Practice #8 - Closed
Saturday, March 21 Practice #9 - Closed Scrimmage at Williams-Brice Stadium
Head coach Will Muschamp available after scrimmage, media room, Williams-Brice Stadium
Monday, March 23 Offensive players available after team meetings, Jerri and Steve Spurrier Indoor Facility
Tuesday, March 24 Practice #10 - Flex and first three periods open to mediaDC Travaris Robinson available after practice in the media room, Long Ops Center
Wednesday, March 25 Defensive players available after team meetings, Jerri and Steve Spurrier Indoor Facility
Thursday, March 26 Practice #11 - Flex and first three periods open to media
OC Mike Bobo available after practice in the media room, Long Ops Center
Saturday, March 28 Practice #12 - Closed Scrimmage at Williams-Brice Stadium
Head coach Will Muschamp available after scrimmage, media room, Williams-Brice Stadium
Monday, March 30 Offensive players available after team meetings, Jerri and Steve Spurrier Indoor Facility
Tuesday, March 31 Practice #13 - Closed
Wednesday, April 1 Defensive players available after team meetings, Jerri and Steve Spurrier Indoor Facility
Carolina Calls with Will Muschamp - 7 pm from Wild Wing Café in the Vista
Thursday, April 2 Practice #14 - Closed
Saturday, April 4 Garnet & Black Spring Game, SEC Network plus - 1 pm
Coach Muschamp & selected players available in the media room at Williams-Brice Stadium
OFFICIAL PREVIEW FROM USC ATHLETICS:
With spring in the air, it's time to turn the page on South Carolina Football. The squad looks to put the disappointing 2019 season in its collective rearview mirror and begin preparations for 2020 and another gauntlet, known as SEC Football.
After a 4-8 campaign, change was inevitable, and fifth-year head coach Will Muschamp has aggressively addressed that in the off-season, revamping much of his coaching staff. Only three coaches, offensive line coach Eric Wolford, outside linebackers coach Mike Peterson and defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson, will return in the same roles as a season ago.
The biggest changes will occur on the offensive side of the ball, where Coach Muschamp has brought in former Colorado State head coach Mike Bobo to coordinate the attack and mentor the quarterbacks. Bobo has a long track record of success in the SEC and will use the spring to implement his vernacular and system. Bobo brought Joe Cox along with him from Fort Collins. Cox, who is originally from Charlotte, played at Georgia, and considered an up-and-comer in the profession, will be in charge of the Gamecock tight ends.
Bobby Bentley shifts back to direct the running backs, a position he held from 2016-18, before becoming the tight ends coach a year ago. Bryan McClendon returns as the wide receivers coach.
On the defensive side, veteran SEC legend Tracy Rocker joins the staff as the defensive line coach, while former Gamecock captain Rod Wilson returns to Columbia as the linebackers coach. Wilson, a Cross, S.C. native who captained the 2004 Gamecocks, was most recently with the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs.
The Gamecocks also had a changing of the guard with their special teams units, as Kyle Krantz, who served as an assistant in that area for the past two years, takes over as the coordinator. Krantz will continue to assist with the Carolina secondary as well.
Coach Muschamp also made changes in some off-the-field positions, the most notable coming in the weight room, where an entirely new staff, under the direction of Paul Jackson, has taken over. Jackson, who most recently worked at Ole Miss, will be joined by Scott Salwasser, Anthony Henderson, Julian Whitehead and Jordan Sims. Drew Hughes re-unites with Coach Muschamp as the Director of Player Personnel. The two previously worked together for a year at Florida. Gamecock Great Connor Shaw returns to Columbia as the Director of Football Student-Athlete Development.
On the field, the Gamecocks return 45 letterwinners, including 13 starters, six on both sides of the ball, along with their placekicker from 2019. Carolina returns just 20 percent of its rushing yards, 95 percent of its passing yards and 43 percent of its receiving yards, along with six of its top eight tacklers from a year ago. Although it would be hard to match the difficulty of last year's regular-season schedule, which proved to be the nation's toughest, another challenging slate awaits the Gamecocks in 2020.
OFFENSE
New offensive coordinator Mike Bobo was brought in to reinvigorate an offense that struggled to put points on the board a season ago.
Six starters return including four offensive linemen in left tackle Sadarius Hutcherson, left guard Jordan Rhodes, right guard Jovaughn Gwyn and right tackle Dylan Wonnum. While on paper the center position is the only open spot heading into the spring, offensive line coach Eric Wolford has recruited well and will look to get his best five on the field.
Sophomore quarterback Ryan Hilinski returns as the front-runner to direct the offense. He gained valuable experience a year ago after being forced into unexpected early duty following a season-ending injury to Jake Bentley, and looks to take the next step in his development.
The running back room has undergone a massive overhaul following the graduation of Rico Dowdle, Tavien Feaster and Mon Denson and the competition will be fierce this spring.
Competition at tight end is open as well following the graduation and Kyle Markway and a knee injury to Nick Muse, which will keep him sidelined this spring.
Junior Shi Smith is a returning starter at wide receiver and figures to hold one of those positions, but there are plenty of open slots in the receiving corps for someone to step up as the Gamecocks look to replace the school's all-time leading receiver in Bryan Edwards.
DEFENSE
The Gamecock defense will have a different look in 2020, especially along the defensive line, where the losses of All-American Javon Kinlaw, standout Buck D.J. Wonnum, and glue-guy Kobe Smith will be felt.
The lone returnee up front is Aaron Sterling, who is coming off a season in which he logged 10.0 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks.
However, 2018 starter Keir Thomas returns after being sidelined for much of the 2019 season and Coach Muschamp and his staff have recruited well with several talented players ready to fill those big shoes, including 2019 SEC All-Freshman selection Zacch Pickens.
The Gamecocks will miss the leadership of three-year starter T.J. Brunson at linebacker, but leading tackler Ernest Jones and Sherrod Greene, who came on strong as the season progressed last year, are two returning starters at the position.
The Gamecocks are blessed with a pair of returning starters at cornerback in Jaycee Horn and Israel Mukuamu, whom some believe are as good of tandem as any in the country. R.J. Roderick is a returning starter at safety, while Jammie Robinson was a Freshman All-SEC selection at nickel and could play safety as well.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kyle Krantz takes over as the Gamecocks' special teams coordinator. Many of the key positions are wide open entering the spring.
One that is not is at placekicker, which is in the capable hands (and foot) of senior Parker White. White has improved each season and is almost automatic from inside 40 yards.
Krantz has a huge hole to fill at punter following the graduation of school record-holder Joseph Charlton. Those duties may not be decided until the fall.
That may be the case as well at long snapper, holder, kickoff specialist and punt returner, where the Gamecocks graduated Max Oliveira, Joseph Charlton, Will Tommie and Bryan Edwards, respectively. Shi Smith and Xavier Legette both have experience at kickoff return and figure to get the first shot there.
