August 9th Practice Report

The Gamecocks donned full pads for the first time tonight on the Bluff Road practice fields. Practice was spirited and up-tempo.

One of the highlights of practice was the Oklahoma Drill. Dominant performers included Dakoda Walker, Stanley Doughty, Chris White, Terrance Campbell, and Heath Batchelor.

Perhaps the highlight of the Okalhoma drill was provided by Heath Batchelor, the big freshman offensive tackle from Haleyville, AL. The 6'7 290 pound right tackle pancaked fellow freshman defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis on back to back plays.

Another highlight was Stanley Doughty throwing James Thompson aside like a rag-doll. Doughty was quick off the ball, and performed like a man on a mission.

7 on 7 Pass Skel

Blake Mitchell was very impressive, completing 9 of 12 passes. OJ Murdock was also impressive, making several nice catches, including one post corner route, where Mitchell threw the ball well before Murdock made his cut.

Freshman FS Darian Stewart had an interception on a post pattern intended for Kenny McKinley.

Freshman CB Captain Munnerlyn continues to show up in a big way. The freshman from Mobile, AL is making a strong bid for a starting position. Munnerlyn broke up a pass intended for All-American Sidney Rice on the far sideline. The 5'9 CB has excellent closing speed, and shows no fear.

It appears that senior WR Syvelle Newton is returning to form, as he made several nice plays during 7 on 7, and shows no ill effects from the torn achilles tendon he suffered during last season's Vanderbilt game.

TE David Laggis made a great catch against LB casper Brinkley on the final play of the pass skel.

11 on 11- Team Play

Practice concluded with 11 on 11 with the first team offense going aginst the first team defense, and the second team offense versus the second team defense.

First Team Defense
DE-Casper Brinkley
DT-Marque Hall
DT-Nathan Pepper
DE-Ryan Brown
SLB-Marvin Sapp
MLB-Jasper Brinkley
WLB-Cody Wells
CB-Fred Bennett
FS-Darian Stewart
ROV-Chris Hampton
CB-Stoney Woodson

First Team Offense
TE-Robert Pavlovic
LT-Gurminder Thind
LG-Tank Coleman
OC-Chris White
RG-James Thompson
RT-Jamon Meredith
WR-Sindey Rice
WR-Kenny McKinley
QB-Blake Mitchell
FB-Lanard Stafford
RB-Bobby Wallace

The first teams were evenly matched with both sides making plays. Jasper and Casper Brinkley could be the mainstays on Carolina's "No-Name" defense. the junior college twins from Thomson, GA fly to the ball and their motors never stop running. LB Marvin Sapp was also very active in the team session.

WR Mike West rotated in with the first team and made a nice catch on a tipped ball down the far sideline.

RB Bobby Wallace made a couple of nice runs, cutting back and finding a hole. Wallace showed the elusiveness he exhibited in the Clemson game last year, when he rushed for a season high 51 yards.

Second Team Defense
DE-Jordin Lindsey
DT-Joel Reaves
DT-Lem Jeanpierre
DE-Eric Norwood
SLB-Rodney Paulk
MLB-Curtis Rice
WLB-Dakoda Walker
CB-Carlos Thomas
FS-Jeremy Ware
ROV-Emmanuel Cook
CB-Captain Munnerlyn

Second Team Offense
TE-Jared Cook
LT-Hutch Eckerson
LG-Seth Edwards
OC-Web Brown
RG-Kevin Young
RT-Justin Sorensen
WR-Syvelle Newton
WR-Mo Brown
QB-Chris Smelley
FB-Clark Gaston
RB-Taylor Rank

DT Lemuel Jeanpierre continues to show up in team session. The red-shirt freshman from Orlando, FL had a sack again tonight, and also had a deflected pass. Jeanpierre showed great quickness and looks like he will be a player that will see significant snaps this fall.

DE Eric Norwood had a pair of sacks, the first coming against RT Justin Sorensen, and the second against LT Hutch Eckerson. Norwood has one of the quickest first steps on the team, and is lighning quick coming off the edge. Norwood will also see significant snaps this season.

LB Rodney Paulk also had a sack on a blitz from his Stinger linebacker position.

QB Chris Smelley may have made the play of the evening when he scrambled away from pressure and hit OJ Murdock down the right sideline for a big gain and kept the second teams touchdown drive alive. It was pure improvisation by both Murdock and Smelley, as Murdock broke his comeback route and turned up field, Smelley ascrambled to his right and lofted a perfect pass which Murdock ran under for a 20-30 yard gain.

OG Kevin Young appears to be making a strong bid for playing time, as he made several key blocks and could could challenge James Thompson for the starting RG position.

RB Taylor Rank scored from 6 yards out on 4th and goal to provide the only touchdown of the evening.