Jones, Byrd among pass-catchers that will look to compliment Ellington
There are a few familiar wide receivers from last season that will return this year for South Carolina, but some new names are expected to contribute, too.
The big story involving the receivers for the game against North Carolina is the status of junior Bruce Ellington, who has been dealing with a hamstring injury. He would normally start as an outside receiver, but is not listed as a starter in the depth chart USC released before this week’s game.
Spurrier said that Ellington has been running around in practice the past few days and that the coaching and training staff will have to play it by ear to see what he can do against the Tar Heels.
Gamecock fans hope that Ellington, who caught the game-winning touchdown against Michigan in last season’s Outback Bowl, will able to step on the field and perform. He led the team in receiving yards with 600 last year to go along with 40 catches and seven touchdowns.
Junior Damiere Byrd is listed ahead of Ellington for the Thursday night matchup. Byrd may also line up in the slot position because he is the fastest player on the team. At 5-feet 9-inches tall and 166 pounds, he also has the frame for it.
Byrd had 14 receptions for 366 yards and three touchdowns last season. He led the team with a little more than 26 yards per catch. His big play ability is not in question, but Byrd said he wants his role to become larger than what it was.
“I feel like the receivers are on the right track now,” he said. “Personally, I just want to be more consistent and make more plays for the team.”
Starting in the slot will be redshirt junior Nick Jones. Jones will be looking to improve from last season where he was not involved as much, only tallying 12 catches for 197 yards. Head coach Steve Spurrier said Jones did “very well” in the preseason and seems as ready as any receiver to play North Carolina.
The other outside receiver will be highly touted sophomore Shaq Roland.
As a freshman, Roland did not do as much as the Gamecock coaching staff expected him to, only recording five catches for 80 yards and a touchdown. But now that Ace Sanders, last year’s leader for receptions and passing touchdowns, is in the NFL, Roland will get more chances to produce.
Some of the reserves at receiver include redshirt freshman Kwinton Smith and 6-foot-4-inch redshirt sophomore K.J Brent.
Both are expected to see some playing time, and if the Gamecocks are in need of someone to go vertical, Brent’s height fits the bill. Brent said he thinks he had a better preseason than last year and is ready to contribute when he enters the game.
Redhsirt sophomore wide receiver Shamier Jeffery will also see some playing time this fall. Shamier is the younger brother of Chicago Bears receiver and former Gamecock star Alshon Jeffery. Spurrier said a few weeks ago that Jeffery had improved a lot from last year and should be ready to go.
A key storyline may also be the status of junior tight end Rory “Busta” Anderson. Spurrier at his Sunday press conference said Anderson is still hobbled by a hamstring injury, and Spurrier said Tuesday that Anderson will not play, according to The Greenville News.
Anderson is supposed to replace last year’s tight end, Justice Cunningham, who was “Mr. Irrelevant” in this year’s past NFL Draft. Anderson was voted preseason Second Team All-SEC by coaches and media.
If he cannot go, sophomore tight end Jerell Adams will take his place as starter. Adams has been dealing with an ankle injury himself, but Spurrier mentioned he should be ready for the game without any problems.
Spurrier said in his press conference that it will be interesting to see how confident his receivers are, because many of them haven’t played much in games.
He added that during this week of practice, he hoped to see improvement in the passing game.
“I wish we were throwing better,” Spurrier said. “I wish our quarterbacks and receivers were hitting and catching better. But anyway, we’ll keep working on it up to game time and see if we can pitch it around a little bit better than we have been.”