Down 7-0 to UCF and having the misfortune of starting the drive on his own three-yard line, quarterback Dylan Thompson lined up in the shotgun with no one beside him.
Standing three yards deep in South Carolina’s end zone, Thompson corralled the snap, dropped back three steps and fired a pearl to sophomore wide receiver Damiere Byrd for 15 yards and a mile of breathing room.
Thompson would eventually lead the Gamecocks to a defeat of the Knights, which won its final nine games, including a 52-42 shootout over Baylor in the BCS Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
With plays like that, it’s clear that Thompson is finally ready to leave his own mark on South Carolina’s program. He has shown glimpses of readiness, including the game-winning pass in the 2013 Outback Bowl against Michigan.
The only problem is that he was stuck behind the all-time winningest quarterback in South Carolina, Connor Shaw, on the depth chart.
Thompson expressed his appreciation for being a member of South Carolina’s historic teams, even though he seldom garnered a start.
“Just being a part of this winning culture,” Thompson said, “that since we’ve been there has happened. Hopefully [we] just keep it going, you know. I don’t know what that looks like individually, but as a team, we just hope to keep that rolling.”
Thompson’s confidence in his abilities is the same confidence that head coach Steve Spurrier bestowed in the fifth-year senior when he named Thompson the starting quarterback for the 2014 season.
“Dylan knows the offense in and out,” Spurrier said at this year’s SEC Media Days. “He’s a wonderful young man; a naturarel leader. He does everything the coaches ask and then a little bit more. So, we have tremendous confidence that he’s going to have a big year.”
A big year could indeed be on the horizon for Thompson, who is surrounded by offensive firepower.
The Gamecocks return four starters on their offensive line, including redshirt senior left guard A.J. Cann. Over the offseason, Cann was named first-team All-America and first-team All-SEC by Phil Steele and Athlon.
This year, two seniors in Cann and Corey Robinson on the left side will protect Thompson, while two juniors Mike Matulis and Brandon Shell will man the right side. Sophomore centers Cody Waldrop and Clayton Stadnik are fighting to earn the starting spot at the position.
“It’s a huge blessing to be behind those guys,” Thompson said of his offensive line. “We work out in the morning, and then I’ll go in the afternoon and get something in and our offensive line is in there grinding on their own time, just putting in extra work. Just seeing that, knowing the guys care about what they do, and they want to be great themselves is something that’s really encouraging.”
Thompson will also line up with Heisman hopeful Mike Davis at his disposal this season. Thompson leaned on Davis heavily in South Carolina’s win over UCF, when the running back racked up 178 total yards and three touchdowns.
Redshirt juniors Brandon Wilds and Shon Carson will factor in the position, too, when Davis is off the field. Redshirt freshman David Williams figures receive a portion of carries this year after impressing in the spring game. The second year back out of Philadelphia, Pa. notched 51 yards and two touchdowns on nine touches in this spring’s garnet and black game.
There is a bevy of talent at the wide receiver and tight end positions for South Carolina.
Junior Shaq Roland, senior Damiere Byrd, sophomore Pharoh Cooper and senior Nick Jones each will play key parts in Thompson’s aerial raid, with Roland expected to be the primary receiver.
Spurrier and company have been working sophomore quarterback Brendan Nosovitch into the tight end position at the beginning of fall practice, hinting that he could play into the wildcat package.
Whoever surrounds Thompson on the offensive side of the ball, one position will remained fixed throughout the season.
Dylan Thompson is your starting quarterback.