The Side Line No. 2 by Free Times

Contents

10 seeing stars

USC’s Defensive Ends Lead the Way

4 6 7 8 16 18 22

Schedule Opponent Preview: UAB Opponent Roster: UAB Gameday Poster: USC vs. UAB Explaining The Game: Secondary Coach Grady Brown Senior Profile: Offensive Lineman T.J. Johnson GamecockCentral.com’s Recruit to Watch: Linebacker Matt Rolin 24 No Defense Needed for SEC Schedules 26 USC Roster, Coaches, Depth ON THE COVER: Jadeveon Clowney takes down East Carolina quarterback Shane Carden at Williams-Brice Stadium on Sept. 8, 2012. Photo by Travis Bell/Sideline Carolina.

executive EDITOr: Dan Cook | editor@free-times.com, ext. 133 ASSIGNING EDITOR: David Cloninger production manager: Lisa Willis | lisaw@free-times.com, ext. 121 senior graphic designer: Wilbert T. Fields | wilbertf@free-times.com, ext. 145 graphic designer: Joey Ayer | joeya@free-times.com, ext. 150 Contributors: Chris Clark, Paul Collins, Chris Dearing, James Harley illustrator: Dré Lopez ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Kerry Powers | kpowers@free-times.com, ext. 128 ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Adam Cross | adamc@free-times.com, ext. 134 Zach Johnston | zachj@free-times.com, ext. 146 Ginny Kuhn | ginnyk@free-times.com, ext. 130 Brian Wingard | brianw@free-times.com, ext. 127 ACCOUNT assistant: Jaimie Small | jaimies@free-times.com, ext. 123 CLASSIFIEDS MANAGER: Cale Johnson | classy@free-times.com, ext. 131 CLASSIFIEDS SALES Melissa Kyzer | melissak@free-times.com, ext. 141 Jason Stroman | jasons@free-times.com, ext. 132 OPERATIONS MANAGER: Jen Coody | jenc@free-times.com, ext. 124 CIRCULATION: Tammy Figurski | circulation@free-times.com, ext. 152 The Side Line is published by Portico Media SC 1534 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201 PO Box 8295, Columbia, SC 29202 | (803) 765-0707 • 765-0727 FAX • free-times.com Advertisers in The Side Line assume responsibility for the entire content and subject matter of all advertisements. In case of error or omissions in advertisement, the publisher’s sole liability shall be to publish the advertisement at a later date. Notice of error must be made within ten days of first insertion. © 2012 Portico Publications, LTD. All rights reserved.

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usc VS UAB

CAROLINA FOOTBALL

SC H E D U L E 2 0 1 2

08/30/12 at Vanderbilt h

W, 17-13

Nashville, Tenn.

09/08/12 vs. East Carolina

W, 48-10

Columbia, S.C.

09/15/12 vs. UAB

Columbia, S.C.

7 p.m.

09/22/12 vs. Missouri h Columbia, S.C.

TBA

09/29/12 at Kentucky h Lexington, Ky.

TBA

10/06/12 vs. Georgia h Columbia, S.C.

10/13/12 at

TBA

LSU h Baton Rouge, La.

TBA

10/20/12 at Florida h Gainesville, Fla.

TBA

10/27/12 vs. Tennessee h Columbia, S.C.

TBA

11/10/12 vs. Arkansas h Columbia, S.C.

11/17/12 vs. Wofford

TBA

Columbia, S.C.

1 p.m.

11/24/12 at Clemson Clemson, S.C.

H= SEC game

TBA

usc VS UAB

opp preview

usc USC VS UAB

opp roster

2011

usc VSVS UAB USC

usc VS UAB

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Copa Di Vino Available at these Stores Beer and Tobacco Outlet Bi-Lo Lexington Bi-Lo St. Andrews Bi-Lo Forum Drive Bi-Lo Garners Ferry Bi-Lo Augusta West Columbia Bi-Lo Two Notch Bi-Lo 435 Columbia Bi-Lo St. Andrews Bi-Lo Sandhills Buzz Thru Lexington Blythewood IGA Circle K Lugoff Circle K West Columbia

usc VS UAB

Corner Pantry Harbison Boulevard Corner Pantry Camden Corner Pantry Farrow Drive Corner Pantry Beltline Corner Pantry Harbison Corner Pantry Farrow Road Corner Pantry Cayce Corner Pantry Hopkins Corner Pantry Broad River Class Six at Fort Jackson Evergreens Broad River Greens Fernandina Greens Assembly Friarsgate Mobil Broad River

One Stop Columbia Hess Mart Broad River Hess Mart Route 6 Hess Express Hess Mart Broad River Katatu Store Cayce Kwik Karry Batesburg Markette Lugoff Mega Stop Lexington One Stop Shop Pantry Forest Drive Columbia Pitt Stop 378 Lexington Pitt Stop Blythewood Pitt Stop Lexington

Pitt Stop Forest Drive Pitt stop Augusta Road Lexington Quick Stop and Go Raceway, West Columbia Rainbow Gas Garden Sav a Lot Speaks Travel Mart Speaks Travel Lugoff Walmart Supercenter Dutch Fork Walmart South Lake Drive Walmart Supercenter Garners Ferry Walmart Supercenter Dutch Fork

South Carolina’s Devin Taylor puts pressure on Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez during fourth-quarter action of The Capital One Bowl in Orlando on Jan. 2, 2012. Photo by travis bell/sideline carolina

seeing stars

USC’s Defensive Ends Lead the Way B Y D AV I D C L O N I N G E R

orenzo Ward wasn’t apprehensive. Despite losing several stars from a defense that finished third in the country in 2011, South Carolina’s first-year defensive coordinator felt pretty good about who was coming back. It takes a combined performance from 11 men on the field to achieve what Ward desires, but he knew that if just two of them did what they were supposed to do, the other nine were going to have a much easier time.

Simply put, an opposing offense finds it very hard to operate when two players combine to form 13 feet, two inches and 523 pounds of speedy, mean NFL potential breathing on the ball-carrier a half-second after the snap. “Of course we’re going to depend on those two to lead us, but we’re depending on a lot of people to lead us,” Ward said before the season. “They will be on the front line, so to speak, so they’re going to get first crack.” “They” are the two men on either side of the Gamecocks’ defensive line. “They” are a senior who began his career with a huge play and has kept turning in more huge plays since, and a sophomore who came to USC with lofty credentials and didn’t fail to live up to them. They are Devin Taylor, a lanky defensive end with muscle coiled onto his torso and the wingspan of an in-flight condor, and Jadeveon Clowney, an elite pass-rusher who was on campus for about a day before he was pegged as a

potential No. 1 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. With those two leading the charge, Ward is easing into his first full season of overseeing the USC defense, knowing that with Taylor and Clowney anchoring his defense, the other nine on the field will be allowed to ease into their roles as well. While it’s not easy to replace a consensus All-American (Melvin Ingram), a Top 10 draft pick (Stephon Gilmore) and a ballhawking linebacker/cornerback hybrid (Antonio Allen), Ward figures that if Taylor and Clowney are their usual dominating selves, the rest won’t be relied on as much to make plays. But they’ll still be able to, because he expects it. The two can start a trend of, “We do it, now it’s your turn.” “Devin is a senior so he’s obviously one of our leaders, and we expect big things out of Jadeveon,” Ward said. “I’ve talked to Jadeveon about that, I’ve talked to Devin about that. They’re not the only ones we depend on for us to

usc VS UAB

Devin Taylor (left) and Jadeveon Clowney

Photo by paul collins

Devin Taylor was primed for greatness from the start, causing a fumble on his first collegiate snap. He went on to produce 15.5 sacks, two interceptions and 27 tackles for loss over his first three seasons. have success, but they will be part of our success.” Taylor was primed for greatness from the start, causing a fumble on his first collegiate snap. He went on to produce 15.5 sacks, two interceptions and 27 tackles for loss over his first three seasons. Clowney, the consensus No. 1 recruit in the country two years ago, arrived at USC toting an

impressive haul of credentials and expectations. He didn’t disappoint, recording eight sacks and five forced fumbles in 2011 to become the SEC Freshman of the Year. With a lot of talent leaving after 2011, Clowney and Taylor were immediately looked upon as Ward began to size up the 2012 season. Ward would be breaking in a new

spur, a new cornerback, a new defensive tackle, a new strong safety and trying to get production out of a linebacker who had been a star in 2009 but had struggled since. The schedule offered little time to learn on the job, opening at an SEC opponent and then holding the home opener against a team that loves to pass. The two bookends on the line have made the adjustment a lot easier, especially with the one change that Ward proposed from the Ellis Johnson regime. He wanted to blitz more, and his two towers at defensive end were primary candidates to do so. The way Ward figures it, the newcomers on the rest of the field won’t have to worry about covering a receiver, or being the last line of defense against a runner with a full head

of steam, if either of those is being squashed by an angry dinosaur just after the snap. It took Clowney 12 snaps to make a play in the season-opener at Vanderbilt, the sophomore monster dropping Zac Stacy for a short gain. He immediately followed it by sacking Jordan Rodgers for a nine-yard loss and forcing a punt. Taylor had three tackles in the game, as the Vanderbilt offensive line shifted to double-blocking Clowney, freeing Taylor to charge ahead. With those two leading the way, the rest of USC’s defense was able to get settled in. The Gamecocks gave up some big plays, but ultimately held the Commodores to 62 rushing yards and 214 passing yards, 78 of those on one blown play. Linebacker Shaq Wilson proved to Ward that he could be as productive as he was in 2009 with eight tackles and an interception; Kelcy Quarles tied Wilson with eight tackles as Travian Robertson’s replacement at defensive tackle; and cornerback Jimmy Legree played a fine game with seven tackles. It all flows from the top, and Clowney and Taylor are the top. “Those two are two of the best athletes in the entire conference, and they’re on the same team,” Vanderbilt coach James Franklin said at SEC Media Days. “It’s kind of unfair, if you ask me.” Taylor has become one of the most explosive players in the conference, although he does it all without uttering barely a peep. Nicknamed “Don’t Say Nuthin’” during his freshman year, Taylor lets his play do the talking. “We’ve talked about it a couple of times, but sometimes … you can’t beat a dead mule,” defensive line coach Brad Lawing recently said. “Everybody has a role, and his role is being a good player and not being very vocal. That’s just the way it is. It’s hard to make somebody something they’re not.” Taylor has produced despite being on the same defenses with Eric Norwood, Cliff Matthews and Ingram, using his uncanny length to disrupt and sweep around right tackles, or swat away continues on page 20

usc VS UAB

usc USC VS UAB

usc uscVSVSUAB uAB

15 15

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usc VS UAB

STATE FAIRGROUNDS

S. STADIUM ROAD BLUFF ROAD

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18 18

usc USC VSVS UAB UAB

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usc VS UAB

Jadeveon Clowney goes after a loose ball during action against Vanderbilt in Nashville on Aug. 30. Photo by Travis Bell/SIDELINE CAROLINA

Jadeveon Clowney arrived at USC toting an impressive haul of credentials and expectations. He didn’t disappoint, recording eight sacks and five forced fumbles in 2011 to become the SEC Freshman of the Year. Seeing Stars, continued from page 12 pass attempts. He briefly flirted with the NFL last year, before returning to school knowing that when teams began to double-team the media-frenzied Clowney, he could raise his numbers. Clowney, with his megawatt smile, can be as loquacious and open as Taylor is silent and aloof. It didn’t take long for Clowney to make an impact, doing it against Georgia last year; his unopposed sack of Aaron Murray — slinging the quarterback around as if he was a rag doll to produce a fumble that was scooped and scored upon — was a staple of SEC highlight videos. Knowing that he would be depended on this season, Clowney spoke about it several times in the preseason. “I’ve been working on staying low and getting past the blocks,” Clowney said. “I feel like I had a good year last year, but not a great year.” Clowney was often held during 2011, but he still man-

aged to get his numbers. Ward factored that into his plans for 2012, figuring that if Clowney was held or double-teamed — as he was against Vanderbilt — then Taylor would be able to clean up. Clowney can also be used as a stand-up linebacker in some formations, as the Gamecocks try to present the same threat they had with Ingram, who dominated games last year with his relentless pursuit of the ball-carrier. With Taylor and Clowney on the line, quarterbacks are seeing a lot of stars. They know that no matter which way they look, they’re liable to see a way-too-fast, way-too-big beast charging at them. “It is something that I’ve been planning for,” said Vanderbilt quarterback Rodgers, who didn’t face much of the two last year but got plenty of eyefuls of them this season. “Both of them are outstanding. I can’t find any film on them where they’re not making plays.” Ward is glad to have each of them and plans to use them as

Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez is sacked by Jadeveon Clowney during third-quarter action of The Capital One Bowl in Orlando. Photo by Travis Bell/SIDELINE CAROLINA

much as possible as the season progresses. By dominating the first quarter of the Vanderbilt game and letting the others take the rest over, the pair has already begun to set up the rest of the unit for success, and Ward sees no reason why that should stop. The only question is coming up with a nickname to label the tandem. “Twin Towers” and “Ter-

ror Twins” have been done before, while “Sack Exchange” was made famous long ago. Ward doesn’t worry about nicknames; he’s more interested in how they handle their opponents. “If they do what they are capable of doing,” Ward quipped, “they can call themselves anything they want.”

usc VS UAB

GamecockCentral.com

Recruit to Watch BY CHRIS CLARK

Linebacker matt rolin

t is not often that South Carolina’s football staff reaches into the state of Virginia to mine for talent. After all, there is not a single scholarship player on the Gamecock roster from the Old Dominion. For a talented Gamecock legacy, however, the staff made an exception. Meet Matt Rolin. The fourstar linebacker prospect from Ashburn, Va., and Briar Woods High School, has extensive family ties to USC. “My whole family lives 10 minutes from the USC campus,” Rolin told sports site Rivals earlier this year. “My parents graduated from there, both grandparents, aunts and uncles. Everyone in my family has been a Gamecock except my brother.” The brother Rolin is referring to is Scott Rolin, a redshirt free safety for Virginia Tech. In the end, Tech finished as the runner-up for the younger Rolin’s services, as he verbally committed to USC in May. In Rolin, the Gamecock coaching staff picked up one of the most sought-after linebackers on the East Coast. Rated as the 24th-best outside linebacker prospect in the country and the 13th-best prospect in the state of Virginia regardless of position, Rolin accumulated a list of more than 25 major scholarship offers during the course of his recruitment. Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Tennessee are among the other bigname programs the Gamecocks topped for Rolin’s commitment. After South Carolina made an initial offer to Rolin, he was seen

Height: 6’4” Weight: 209 Hometown: ashburn, va. High School: briar woods (ashburn, va.) during the spring in Columbia, visiting the school and family members living in the area. In April, a two-day trip to the school seemed to put things over the top for USC’s chances. “It was the best visit I’ve been on so far,” he told Gamecock Central. “We talked to the coaches Friday for about an hour-and-ahalf before practice. I watched the scrimmage and I ate lunch with [Steve] Spurrier, the defensive coordinator, [Shawn] Elliott, and the linebackers coach.” USC’s staff views Rolin as a prospect who could play the weakside linebacker position or grow into the middle linebacker position. With four senior linebackers on the roster, the opportunity appears good for Rolin to earn some playing time early in his career, particularly with him planning on enrolling at USC in January and going through spring practice. “They told me I could definitely come and play early and play special teams and help out,” Rolin said. “They’re going to be graduating a lot of linebackers. There would be an opportunity to play early.” Although Rolin likes plenty of things about USC that do not have to do with family, he has made no secret that having familiar faces in the Midlands will be a big help to him making the adjustment to college life. “I’m not going to know anyone in school, so having family down there could help me,” Rolin said. “My cousin lives right in the city, so I could just go to his house.”

usc VS UAB

No Defense Needed for SEC Schedules OPINION BY JAMES HARLEY

t is not uncommon for SEC schools to catch flak from fans of other conferences because of SEC teams’ scheduling of “easy” nonconference opponents. According to these critics, the SEC just seems so strong because its teams rarely play quality schools outside of their own league. These complaints are most popular during the early weeks of the season when a team like South Carolina faces off with the likes of UAB, probably because any acknowledgment of the SEC’s documented bowl superiority would immediately crash the whiner-wagon. Defenders of the conference will often justify such scheduling by citing the toughness of the in-conference schedule as an offset, but this is entirely unnecessary, as the “problem” is completely imaginary; instead, it’s the product of simple jealousy regarding the SEC’s recent stunning success on the national scene. Face it: Most high-end college football teams do the exact same thing. Those early cupcake opponents serve a valuable purpose in warming these teams up for their conference season. Ask Ohio State about its opener with Miami (Ohio), or Oklahoma State about the mighty Savannah State Tigers. From just those examples, it is clear that this practice is not at all exclusive to the SEC. Nor is it inclusive of all SEC schools. While these games were going on, the Gamecocks faced conference foe Vanderbilt, Auburn fought Clemson (and lost) and Alabama smoked Michigan. Is Michigan a cupcake? Even if it were, would this be a bad thing? People tend to look at this issue arrogantly, from the top down, ignoring the benefits of this tradition to all of college football — not just the elite teams. College football would simply not be the same if every team played only against those rated as being of the same caliber. If you were only allowed to play your equals, then the bottom half of the schools would effectively be locked out of the top permanently. How could they move up the ladder without the opportunity to challenge those deemed better than them, simply due to conference affiliation? They could not, because

the ladder is established by the interaction of teams at all levels, a necessity within the system. Beyond that, however, there is an even greater importance to these cupcake games. As a college football fan, would you really want to give up those chances to mock an overrated team when that rare historical upset occurs? Is it possible to hear the name “Appalachian State” now without thinking of Michigan’s embarrassing exposure in 2007 — a priceless moment in sports history? Do you want to see a Virginia Tech fan grimace? Just say, “James Madison.” And for those who pull off these upsets, would you want to deny these underdogs their moment of historic achievement? The bottom line is that these games are an essential ingredient in the drama that is college football. People constantly bash Florida for rarely leaving the state for nonconference games, but those games also produce a bottom line of their own in the form of money for the “lesser” school. What’s wrong with keeping the payouts within your state and promoting the local economy? Wofford will certainly benefit from playing the Gamecocks this year, so why deny the Terriers that when USC’s overall schedule also includes multiple ranked teams? It especially makes no sense to complain about a state school returning benefits to the state that supports it. There are other arguments (USC, Georgia and UF all play traditional ACC rivals, etc.) but these are unnecessary as well, as in the end it comes down to simple jealousy. The critics are understandably not happy with the SEC winning six straight national championships and dominating the bowl season while their own teams play at a lesser level. If playing a couple of lesser teams is the magical key to greatness, then perhaps the whiners should just schedule each other. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks can focus on the goal: Using the UAB game to iron out the wrinkles and prepare for its conference run. Keep up with Harley’s Side Line blog at free-times.com and his Side Line column in the weekly edition of Free Times.

usc VS UAB

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803-708-0960 South Carolina quarterback Dylan Thompson threw for 330 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start to lead USC to a 48-10 win over East Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium on Sept. 8. Photo by Travis Bell/SIDELINE CAROLINA

usc VS UAB

6145 St. Andrews Road, Columbia, SC 29212 www.skindeeptattoosc.com

gamecocks roster No. Name Pos. Hgt. Wgt. Cl. 89 Jerell Adams TE 6-6 224 FR 81 Rory Anderson TE 6-5 218 SO 19 Landon Ard P/K 5-9 189 RS FR 3 Akeem Auguste CB 5-9 188 SR 10 26 34 47 84 80 74 3 50 7 4 15 7 18 58 87 28 31 42 44 92 18 39 52 17 23 8 13 19 61 57 12 78 43 9 93 29 20 16 96

Kareem Auguste Jacob Baker Joshua Blue Reginald Bowens Tevin Bradshaw K.J. Brent Kaleb Broome Damiere Byrd A.J. Cann Shon Carson Ahmad Christian Andrew Clifford Jadeveon Clowney Cedrick Cooper Ryland Culbertson Justice Cunningham Mike Davis Jordan Diaz Jordan Diggs Gerald Dixon Gerald Dixon, Jr. Dwayne Duckett Jessie Dukes Phillip Dukes Chaz Elder Bruce Ellington Darius English Patrick Fish Kyle Fleetwood Travis Ford Aldrick Fordham Jody Fuller Cody Gibson Qua Gilchrist Sharrod Golightly Deon Green Chaun Gresham T.J. Gurley Austin Hails Jamal Hall

SAF FB TB LB WR WR OG WR OG TB CB QB DE LB OG TE RB LB SPR DE DT WR DB DT CB WR DE P SAF OC DE WR OT FB SPR DE LB SAF QB DE

6-0 200 5-9 188 5-7 167 6-3 254 5-7 155 6-4 184 6-6 332 5-9 168 6-4 309 5-8 192 5-10 189 6-2 212 6-6 256 6-2 215 6-4 254 6-4 264 5-9 216 6-1 236 6-0 197 6-2 272 6-3 304 6-0 185 5-11 162 6-3 306 6-2 187 5-9 197 6-6 215 6-0 193 5-11 199 6-3 278 6-4 269 5-11 201 6-7 278 6-1 245 5-10 179 6-4 290 6-2 266 5-10 183 6-2 212 6-2 232

RS FR SR SO RS SR RS FR RS FR SR SO RS SO RS FR RS FR RS JR SO RS FR RS SO SR FR RS SO FR RS FR RS FR FR SO RS FR FR SO FR RS SO FR RS JR SR FR RS SO RS SR RS SO RS FR RS JR FR RS FR RS JR

27 59 70 34 21 11 94 35

Victor Hampton Coleman Harley Kyle Harris Mason Harris DeVonte Holloman T.J. Holloman Ashton Holmes Jeff Homad

CB LS OC LB SPR LB DE TE

5-10 197 6-1 280 6-3 268 6-3 210 6-2 241 6-2 209 6-3 252 6-2 225

RS SO RS FR RS FR RS FR SR FR RS JR RS SO

13 Tyler Hull

6-2 205 RS SO

91 33 8 70

Walker Inabinet Damario Jeffery Shamier Jeffery Byron Jerideau

LS LB WR DT

5-10 204 6-4 233 6-1 214 6-1 316

RS SR SR RS FR RS SR

55 10 21 15 22 29 40 86 25 64 76 41 5 31 6 82 62

T.J. Johnson Nick Jones Marcus Lattimore Jimmy Legree Kaiwan Lewis Blair Lowery Kyle Madden Reilly Madden Kadetrix Marcus Christopher Massey Mike Matulis Connor McLaurin Rico McWilliams Kenny Miles Chris Moody D.L. Moore Davis Moore

OC WR TB CB LB TB FB P SS OL OT FB CB TB CB WR LS

6-6 5-7 6-0 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-3 6-0 6-1 6-3 6-5 6-0 5-11 5-9 6-1 6-5 6-0

RS SR RS SO JR RS JR FR RS SR RS SR FR SO FR SO RS SO FR RS SR FR RS SR RS JR

319 184 218 189 225 178 248 185 185 220 274 222 172 193 208 198 217

Hometown/High School/Last College Pinewood, S.C./Scottâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Branch Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern Rock Hill, S.C./South Pointe Hollywood, Fla./Chaminade-Madonna/Fork Union Military Miramar, Fla./Miramar Ridgeland, S.C./Thomas Heyward Academy Tatum, S.C./Marlboro County Holly Springs, N.C./Garner Moncks Corner, S.C./Berkeley/Brevard Waxhaw, N.C./Marvin Ridge Aiken, S.C./Aiken/Georgia Military College Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek Bamberg, S.C./Bamberg-Ehrhardt Scranton, S.C./Lake City Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian Tampa, Fla./Wharton Rock Hill, S.C./South Pointe Lithonia, Ga./Lithonia Laurens, S.C./Laurens Academy Pageland, S.C./Central Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton West Cape Coral, Fla./Island Coast Rock Hill, S.C./South Pointe Rock Hill, S.C./Northwestern Columbia, S.C./Spring Valley/Gray Military Blackville, S.C./Blackville-Hilda Manning, S.C./Manning College Park, Ga./Banneker Moncks Corner, S.C./Berkeley Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern Shelby, N.C./Burns Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson Fork, S.C./Lake View/Coastal Carolina Jamestown, S.C./Timberland Monroe, N.C./Sun Valley Tallahassee, Fla./Lincoln Abbeville, S.C./Abbeville/Butler County CC Decatur, Ga./Southwest Dekalb Windermere, Fla./Olympia Auburn, Ga./Apalachee Cairo, Ga./Cairo Collinsville, Ill./Collinsville Ladson, S.C./Fort Dorchester/Brevard College Darlington, S.C./Darlington Aiken, S.C./South Aiken Silver Creek, Ga./Pepperell Fort Oglethorpe, Ga./Ridgeland Charlotte, N.C./South Pointe Atlanta, Ga./St. Pius X Spartanburg, S.C./Byrnes/Butler CC Hilton Head Island, S.C./Hilton Head Island/ UNC Pembroke Mount Airy, N.C./Mount Airy/Guilford College Columbia, S.C./Hammond School Columbia, S.C./Columbia St. Matthews, S.C./Calhoun County Green Pond, S.C./Colleton County/Fort Scott C.C. Aynor, S.C./Aynor Moore, S.C./Byrnes Duncan, S.C./Byrnes Beaufort, S.C./Beaufort Hammonton, N.J./St. Joseph Irmo, S.C./Dutch Fork Powder Springs, Ga./Harrison/UCF Vienna, Va./Paul VI Catholic Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson Summerville, S.C./Ashley Ridge Boynton Beach, Fla./Park Vista Raleigh, N.C./Garner Hampton, Ga./Lovejoy Lawrenceville, Ga./Brookwood McDonough, Ga./Henry County Bowling Green, Ky./Bowling Green Buford, Ga./Mill Creek/Emory & Henry

No. Name Pos. Hgt. Wgt. Cl. 5 Brendan Nosovitch QB 6-1 210 FR 88 Drew Owens TE 6-6 236 RS FR 67 Ronald Patrick OG 6-2 305 JR 49 Devin Potter FB 5-10 202 FR 99 Kelcy Quarles DT 6-4 286 SO 5 30 48 53 26 4 24 1 14 28 71 46 6 9 24 75 16 65 54 11 97 45 90 36

Kelvin Rainey Sidney Rhodes Marcquis Roberts Corey Robinson Kenny Robinson Shaq Roland Kendric Salley Ace Sanders Connor Shaw Jared Shaw Brandon Shell Darian Sims DeAngelo Smith Kwinton Smith Quin Smith Will Sport Nick St. Germain Brock Stadnik Clayton Stadnik Seth Strickland J.T. Surratt Ty Sutherland Chaz Sutton D.J. Swearinger

TE CB SPR OT FS WR RB WR QB FS OT LB WR WR LB OT PK OT OC QB DT FB DE FS

6-3 219 5-10 170 6-1 206 6-8 337 5-9 176 6-1 173 5-9 205 5-8 175 6-1 207 5-10 179 6-6 331 6-2 250 6-1 196 6-4 206 6-1 239 6-5 291 5-9 182 6-5 287 6-3 265 6-2 195 6-2 295 5-10 220 6-5 248 6-0 210

depth WR

WR WR WR WR LT WR LG LT C LG RG C RT RG TE RT TE TE QB TE FB QB TB FB

1 Ace Sanders 6 DeAngelo Smith 4 Shaq Roland

23 13 6 4 82

Bruce Ellington Ace Sanders Damiere Byrd DeAngelo Smith Shaq Roland D.L. Moore

FR SO RS FR RS SO RS SO FR FR JR JR RS SR RS FR RS FR RS JR FR SR RS FR FR FR FR RS SR RS SO RS FR RS JR SR

Hometown/High School/Last College Allenton, Pa./Central Catholic Charlotte, N.C./Ardrey Kell Cocoa, Fla./Cocoa Granite Falls, N.C./South Caldwell Hodges, S.C./Greenwood/Fork Union Military Yulee, Fla./Yulee Easley, S.C./Wren/Western Carolina Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern Havelock, N.C./Havelock Hilton Head Island, S.C./Hilton Head Island Lexington, S.C./Lexington Williston, S.C./Williston Elko Bradenton, Fla./Manatee Flowery Branch, Ga./Flowery Branch Fort Mill, S.C./Fort Mill/Newberry Goose Creek, S.C./Goose Creek Goose Creek, S.C./Goose Creek Kingsland, Ga./Camden County Dillon, S.C./Dillon Lenoir, N.C./Hibriten Milton, Fla./Pace Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern Greensboro, N.C./Western Guilford Greensboro, N.C./Western Guilford Laurens, S.C./Laurens Winston-Salem, N.C./Parkland Pendleton, S.C./Pendleton South Carolina Savannah, Ga./Jenkins/Fork Union Military Greenwood, S.C./Greenwood

Offense

54 Shaq Wilson 52 Adam Yates 77 Mason Zandi

LB 5-11 PK 6-1 OT 6-9

6-1

Offense 5-9 5-8 5-9 6-1 6-1 6-5

197 175 168 196 173 198

SO-1L JR-2L SO-1L JR-1L FR-HS SR-3L

Moncks Corner, S.C. Bradenton, Sicklerville,Fla. N.J. Kingsland, Ga. Lexington, S.C. Ky. Bowling Green,

71 82 53 10 OR 80 50 75 71 53 55 70 50 61 75

Brandon Shell D.L. CoreyMoore Robinson Nick Jones K.J. Brent A.J. Cann Will Sport Brandon Shell Corey Robinson T.J. Johnson Kyle Harris A.J. Cann Travis Ford Will Sport

6-6 6-5 6-8 5-7 6-4 6-4 6-5 6-6 6-8 6-6 6-3 6-4 6-3 6-5

331 198 337 184 184 309 291 331 337 319 268 309 278 291

FR-RS SR-3L SO-SQ SO-1L FR-RS SO-1L FR-RS FR-RS SO-SQ SR-3L FR-RS SO-1L JR-1L FR-RS

Goose Creek, S.C. Bowling Havelock,Green, N.C. Ky. Moore, S.C. Waxhaw, N.C. Bamberg, S.C. Milton, Fla. Goose Creek, S.C. Havelock, N.C. Aynor, S.C. Silver Creek, Ga. Bamberg, Fork, S.C.S.C. Milton, Fla.

Ronald Patrick T.J. Johnson Kaleb Broome Kyle Harris Travis Ford Mike Matulis

6-2 6-6 6-6 6-3 6-3 6-5

305 319 332 268 278 274

JR-1L SR-3L SR-SQ FR-RS JR-1L SO-1L

Cocoa, Fla. Aynor, Aiken, S.C. S.C. Silver Creek, Ga. Fork, S.C.Beach, Fla. Boynton

78 Cody Gibson 67 Ronald Patrick 74 87 Kaleb JusticeBroome Cunningham 89 Jerell Adams 76 Mike Matulis 78 Gibson 81 Cody Rory Anderson

6-7 278 SO-1L Tallahassee, Fla. 6-2 305 JR-1L Cocoa, Fla. 6-6 S.C.S.C. 6-4 332 264 SR-SQ SR-3L Aiken, Pageland, 6-6 224 FR-PG Pinewood, S.C. 6-5 274 SO-1L Boynton Beach, Fla. 6-7 Fla.Ga. 6-5 278 218 SO-1L SO-1L Tallahassee, Powder Springs,

5 87 89 14

Yulee, Fla. Pageland, S.C. Pinewood, S.C. Ga. Flowery Branch,

17 Dylan Thompson 81 11 Rory Seth Anderson Strickland 5 Kelvin Rainey

6-3 219 FR-HS 6-4 264 SR-3L 6-6 6-1 224 207 FR-PG JR-2L 6-3 212 SO-1L 6-5 6-2 218 195 SO-1L SR-2L 6-3 219 FR-HS

43 14 41 17 11 21

Qua Gilchrist Connor Connor Shaw McLaurin Dylan Thompson Seth Strickland Marcus Lattimore

6-1 6-1 6-0 6-3 6-2 6-0

245 207 222 212 195 218

SR-SQ JR-2L SO-SQ SO-1L SR-2L JR-2L

Abbeville, S.C. Flowery Raleigh, Branch, N.C. Ga. Boiling Springs, S.C. Laurens, S.C. Duncan, S.C.

31 43 28 41

Kenny Miles Qua MikeGilchrist Davis Connor McLaurin

5-9 6-1 5-9 6-0

193 245 216 222

SR-3L SR-SQ FR-HS SO-SQ

Lawrenceville, Ga. Abbeville, S.C. Lithonia, Ga. Raleigh, N.C.

Kelvin Rainey Justice Cunningham Jerell Adams Connor Shaw

Boiling Springs, S.C. Powder Laurens,Springs, S.C. Ga. Yulee, Fla.

21 Marcus Lattimore 31 Kenny Miles 28 Mike Davis

19 Landon Ard 52 Adam Yates

5-9 189 FR-RS 6-1 196 SR-1L

Rock Hill, S.C. Sparks, Md.

PK KO P PK

52 19 19 52 13

6-1 5-9 5-9 6-1 6-2

Steve Spurrier - Head Coach Kirk Botkin - Linebackers/Spurs Grady Brown - Secondary/Assistant Special Teams Coordinator Shawn Elliott - Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive LIne Brad Lawing - Defensive Line G.A. Mangus - Quarterbacks Joe Robinson - Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends Everette Sands - Running Backs Jamie Speronis - Associate AD/Football Operations Steve Spurrier Jr. - Co-Offensive Coord/Wide Receivers/Recruiting Coord Lorenzo Ward - Defensive Coordinator Robbie Liles - Director of High School Relations Scott Morgan - Recruiting Assistant Depth Chart Patrick Shine - Administrative Coordinator for Recruiting

Sparks, Md. Rock Hill, S.C. Rock Hill, S.C. Sparks, Md. N.C. Mount Airy,

13 Patrick Fish 52 Adam Yates 19 Landon Ard

6-0 193 SO-SQ Shelby, N.C. 6-1 196 SR-1L Sparks, Md. 5-9 189 FR-RS Rock Hill, S.C.

13 Tyler Hull

6-2 205 SO-TR Mount Airy, N.C.

DT DE DT DT DE DT MLB DE WLB MLB SPR WLB CB SPR SS CB FS SS CB FS CB

Defense

SR-1L FR-RS FR-RS SR-1L SO-TR

70 52 98 90 99

Byron Jerideau Phillip Dukes Devin Taylor Chaz KelcySutton Quarles

92 70 527 57 99 44 92 47 7 33 57 44 54

Defense 6-1 316 SR-2L 6-3 6-8 6-5 6-4

306 267 248 286

FR-RS SR-3L JR-2L SO-1L

Green Pond, S.C. Manning, S.C. Beaufort, S.C. Savannah, Ga. Hodges, S.C.

Gerald Dixon Jr. Byron Jerideau Phillip Dukes Jadeveon Clowney Aldrick Fordham Kelcy GeraldQuarles Dixon Gerald Dixon Jr.

6-3 6-1 6-3 6-6 6-4 6-4 6-2 6-3

304 316 306 256 269 286 272 304

FR-RS SR-2L FR-RS SO-1L SR-3L SO-1L FR-RS FR-RS

Rock Hill, S.C. Green Pond, S.C. Manning, Rock Hill, S.C. S.C. Jamestown, S.C. Hodges, Rock Hill,S.C. S.C. Rock Hill, S.C.

Reginald Bowens Jadeveon Clowney Damario Jeffery Aldrick Fordham Gerald Dixon Shaq Wilson

6-3 6-6 6-4 6-4 6-2 5-11

254 256 233 269 272 224

SR-2L SO-1L SR-3L SR-3L FR-RS SR-3L

Holly Springs, N.C. Rock Hill, S.C. Columbia, S.C. Jamestown, S.C. Rock Hill, S.C.Fla. Jacksonville,

24 Quin Smith 47 Bowens 18 Reginald Cedrick Cooper 33 Damario Jeffery

6-1 239 SR-3L Lenoir, N.C. 6-3 Springs, 6-2 254 215 SR-2L FR-RS Holly Lithonia, Ga. N.C. 6-4 233 SR-3L Columbia, S.C.

21 54 42 24 18 27

DeVonte Holloman Shaq Wilson Jordan Diggs Quin Smith Cedrick Cooper Victor Hampton

6-2 5-11 6-0 6-1 6-2 5-10

241 224 197 239 215 197

SR-3L SR-3L FR-HS SR-3L FR-RS SO-1L

Charlotte, N.C. Jacksonville, Fla. Fort Myers, Fla. Lenoir, N.C. Lithonia, Ga.S.C. Darlington,

4 21 42 12

Ahmad Christian DeVonte Holloman Jordan Diggs Brison Williams

5-10 6-2 6-0 5-11

189 241 197 205

Jacksonville, Fla. Charlotte, N.C. Fort Myers, Fla. Ga. Warner Robins,

25 27 4 36

Kadetrix Marcus Victor Hampton Ahmad Christian D.J. Swearinger

6-1 5-10 5-10 6-0

185 197 189 210

FR-RS SR-3L FR-HS SO-1L SO-SQ SO-1L FR-RS SR-3L

Stone Mountain, Ga. Darlington, S.C. Jacksonville, Fla. Greenwood, S.C.

28 Jared Shaw 12 Brison Williams 25 Marcus 15 Kadetrix Jimmy Legree 20 T.J. Gurley 36 D.J. Swearinger 28 Jared Shaw

5-10 179 SR-SQ Fort Mill, S.C. 5-11 205 SO-1L Warner Robins, Ga. 6-1 Mountain, 6-0 185 189 SO-SQ JR-2L Stone Beaufort, S.C. Ga. 5-10 183 FR-HS Cairo, Ga. 6-0 210 SR-3L Greenwood, S.C. 5-10 179 SR-SQ Fort Mill, S.C.

15 Jimmy Legree 20 T.J. Gurley

6-0 189 JR-2L Beaufort, S.C. 5-10 183 FR-HS Cairo, Ga.

*Note: The depth chart lists 13 offensive positions due to the number of formations used by the team.

Specialists

13 Patrick Fish 6-0 193 SO-SQ Shelby, N.C. South Carolina vs. East Carolina u September 8, 2012

6-8 267 SR-3L Beaufort, S.C. 6-5 248 JR-2L Savannah, Ga.

*Note: The depth chart lists 13 offensive positions due to the number of formations used by the team.

6-0 218 JR-2L Duncan, S.C. 5-9 193 SR-3L Lawrenceville, Ga. 5-9 216 FR-HS Lithonia, Ga.

196 189 189 196 205

Hometown/High School/Last College Beaufort, S.C./Beaufort Boiling Springs, S.C./Boiling Springs Seffner, Fla./Armwood Allendale, S.C./Allendale-Fairfax/S.C. State Duluth, Ga./Chattahoochee/Arkansas Blythewood, S.C./Blythewood Cowpens, S.C./Broome Warner Robins, Ga./Northside/Fork Union Military 190 RS JR Norway, S.C./Orangeburg Prep/Columbia University 224 SR Jacksonville, Fla./First Coast 196 RS SR Sparks, MD/Hereford 266 FR Chapin, S.C./Chapin

coaches

90 Chaz Sutton

5-7 184 SO-1L Moore, S.C. 5-9 6-4 197 184 SO-1L FR-RS Moncks Waxhaw,Corner, N.C. S.C. 5-9 168 SO-1L Sicklerville, N.J.

Adam Yates Landon Ard Landon Ard Adam Yates Tyler Hull

84 Mike Williamson

Devin Taylor South CarolinaDE Depth 98Chart

5-8 175 JR-2L Bradenton, Fla. 6-1 196 JR-1L Kingsland, Ga. 6-1 173 FR-HS Lexington, S.C.

10 Nick Jones Ellington OR 23 80 Bruce K.J. Brent 3 Damiere Byrd

67 55 74 70 61 76

No. Name Pos. Hgt. Wgt. Cl. 98 Devin Taylor DE 6-8 267 RS SR 17 Dylan Thompson QB 6-3 212 RS SO 51 Cody Waldrop OG 6-2 300 FR 95 Michael Washington DE 6-3 228 FR 85 Kane Whitehurst WR 5-11 170 RS FR 22 Brandon Wilds TB 6-2 218 SO 32 David Wilkins CB 6-1 180 RS SR 12 Brison Williams SS 5-11 205 SO

23 Bruce Ellington 3 Damiere Byrd

9 PR Specialists

Ace Sanders

5-9 197 SO-1L 5-9 168 SO-1L

Moncks Corner, S.C. Sicklerville, N.J.

5-8 175 JR-2L

Bradenton, Fla.

KR LS

23 91 Bruce WalkerEllington Inabinet 3 Damiere 59 ColemanByrd Harley

5-9 197 Corner, 5-10 204 SO-1L SR-2L Moncks Columbia, S.C. S.C. 5-9 6-1 168 280 SO-1L FR-RS Sicklerville, Aiken, S.C. N.J.

PR H LS

9 11 13 91 59

5-8 6-2 6-0 5-10 6-1

11 Seth Strickland 13 Patrick Fish

Ace SethSanders Strickland Patrick Fish Walker Inabinet Coleman Harley

175 195 193 204 280

JR-2L SR-2L SO-SQ SR-2L FR-RS

Bradenton, Fla. Laurens, S.C. Shelby, N.C. Columbia, S.C. Aiken, S.C.

usc VS UAB

6-2 195 SR-2L Laurens, S.C. 6-0 193 SO-SQ Shelby, N.C.

usc VS UAB