4 USC players have been named to the SEC coaches preseason all-league football teams

Four USC players have been named to the SEC coaches preseason all-league football teams, which were released today.

Senior LB Eric Norwood was selected to the first-team defense for the second straight season.

Sophomore QB Stephen Garcia and junior DB Chris Culliver were named as third-team selections on offense and defense.

Junior punter Spencer Lanning was also a third-team selection as a specialist.

A Full Story- HERE

I also strongly agree with Joe Person that Darin Stewart not getting on the team is bullsh*t. But it reinforces what we said about him here. I will say at the end of the year he will be on there.

Congrats to these Gamecocks!

Horn building a fence around South Carolina

The Gamecock Basketball Team picked up a commitment today from 6'8 F RJ Slawson from Fort Dorchester High School in Charleston today. This is the 2nd instate recruit Horn has for the 2010 class that is going to help the Gamecock basketball team take it to the next level. Welcome RJ.

Gamecocks land OL Eric Mack

Huge commitment for USC on Wednesday...OL Eric Mack (6-4 310) of Calhoun County, regarded as one of the state's top players and one of the top offensive linemen in the country, committed to USC Coach Wolford to be a gamecock for 2010. Mack picked the Gamecocks over numerous offers including Clemson, North Carolina, Auburn, Alabama, LSU, Tennessee, Florida State, Miami, Oklahoma and Michigan.

Mack is projected to play offensive guard for the Gamecocks. He is the 14th commitment for USC's 2010 class and the seventh offensive lineman.

More HERE

Let's welcome Whitlock back to the team

USC cornerback C.C. Whitlock has been reinstated to the team following his second suspension this year.
Seems he still has one more hurdle and that deals with grades - "Sources have said Whitlock needs As and Bs in his summer school classes to remain eligible."
Let's hope CC gets his life on the right track and contribute to the gamecock football team in a positive manner this fall.

More on the story HERE and HERE from The State's Joe Person.

Sidney Rice

Probably the slowest time of the year for sports, but you can keep yourself entertained by following Sidney Rice on his webiste.
Hopefully, he will show the NFL what he showed Gamecock nation while he was in Columbia.

3 Gamecocks you may not know now but will in '09

Let's take a look at 3 gamecocks that you may not know a lot about right now but we here at the LOHD office feel very strong that you will hear there name a lot in 2009. We are not going to call them sleepers, like Jarvis Giles has been called but we do feel these kids are flying under the radar right now and this excludes the incoming class. The guys listed below may not make the headlines every game but they will have a impact.

1. WR Tori Gurley --- this redshirt freshman was named the "Most Improved Wide Receiver" following spring drills in 2009. At 6 foot 5 inches, I feel this big boy with good hands will get plenty of chances to showcase why UNC and UT tried to go after him but he decided to be a gamecock. He could be that mis-match player like the former TE Jared Cook was in 2008. I also could see some designed "jump balls" for him in the redzone. I think good things are in store for Tori if he can get on the field as he is listed as a backup WR to Dion LeCron right now and the WR battle should be good to watch.

2. DE Clifton Geathers --- okay, I know you could say this guy is not a unknown after seeing action in 24 of the 25 games over the past two seasons. But this year he is a starter and will get lots of PT. As opposing teams look to limit LB Eric Norwood and DE Cliff Matthews look for Geathers to take advantage. He knows it is time to step up his game. His brother is Robert Geathers Jr who plays for the Cinncy Bengals so you know the kid has the genes to turn it up a higher notch. I feel real confident that this guy will surprise many and be a anchor up front.

3. OL T.J. Johnson---Redshirt freshman who enters the season listed on the first team at right guard after being named the 'Most Improved Offensive Lineman' in the spring. He plays aggressive yet plays smart. He is a big white boy that knows how to use his hands and we feel will only get better. This could be a kid that could easily be a 4 yr starter then be in the NFL. You will hear a lot about Q Richardson or J King up front but TJ will be the constant. I am not saying he will not surrender a sack or miss a assignment but I feel he will hold his own on the right side and provide some much needed running lanes.

Honorable mentions

LB Josh Dickerson

DL Chaz Sutton

Thoughts? Who am I missing here?

Gamecock Fans - Who will you miss most in '09?

So out of the "key loses" from 2008, which one will you miss the most? Can be from a personality stand point or a production issue? Post your comments.

Here are the "key" loses deemed by LOHD staff from 08 to 09---

*WR Kenny McKinley --- the "go to guy" for gamecock qbs for many years. Set record after record and had excellent hands to go with the no fear attitude to go across the middle. He set school career records for receptions and receiving yards, while also closing out his career second on the school’s all-time touchdown catches list. His 207 receptions seat him third in conference annals, and he is just the fifth SEC player to amass more than 200 catches in a career. He also became the 12th player in league history to record more than 2,700 receiving yards (2,781).

*TE Jared Cook --- big TE that kept getting better as the years went by. Proved to be a great target last season because of the mis-match he caused. The Mackey Award semifinalist and All-Southeastern Conference first-team selection started 11 contests at tight end. The junior ranked second on the team with 37 receptions for 573 yards (15.5 avg) and three touchdowns, ranking 12 in the league with an average of 44.08 receiving yards per game.

*SS Emanuel Cook --- He earned all-SEC recognition all three seasons he spent at South Carolina. He was tough, made lots of key tackles and broke up many passes.

*CB Captain Munnerlyn --- Cap started 28 games in three seasons at South Carolina. Was a first-team All-SEC cornerback as a true sophomore, opponents rarely challenged his side of the field in 2008. Munnerlyn established himself among the conference's best return specialists to boot.

*LB Jasper Brinkley --- the heart of the defense. Two years removed from a 107-tackle season, Brinkley made 65 stops in 2008 as he bounced back from an injury that cost him all of 2007. Was a run stopper and a pass defender. Seems his motor was always running.

*K/P Ryan Succop --- "Mr. Irrelevant" performed kicking, punting, and kickoff duties for the Gamecocks. His 161 career points ranks 10th on South Carolina's all-time list. In his career at USC he only missed 2 extra points. Anywhere on the field within 55 yards was his range and most of the time the odds where in his favor to make the FG.

So who will you miss most?

Gamecock Weekend News Clippings

Spurrier

• Was Spurrier's offense a failure in the NFL?

Gamecock Football

• College Football Preview 2009: South Carolina Gamecocks Part 2 (Games 7-13)
• 2009 College Football Preview: South Carolina Gamecocks Part 1 (Games 1-6)
• Five reasons USC will be better, five reasons they might not be
• Marcus Lattimore: Reluctant Superstar
• Rivals has USC LB Eric Norwood at #73
• Rivals has the USC football team at #34 and has a preview ... here is the summary:

"The Gamecocks appear more talented than a year ago and should be better than last season. But with their minefield of a schedule, it might not show up in the won-lost record. Garcia's progress at quarterback and the offensive line's development are huge keys to South Carolina's success. But bettering the seven wins of last season won't be easy. Eight victories would be considered a resounding success."

Garnet & Black Blog Post

• Six Games I Really Want to See the Gamecocks Win in 2009

Other Gamecock Related Stuff

• Meyer gets a new life with Astros
• Ranking the SEC: O-line
• Best of the SEC: Running backs

Pat Dooley, of The Sun, has put out his annual rankings of the SEC’s football programs. You can click here to read the reasons behind his picks, but here’s the summary which I feel is BS:
1. Florida
2. Bama
3. LSU
4. Georgia
5. Tennessee
6. Ole Miss
7. Arkansas
8. Kentucky
9. Auburn
10. South Carolina
11. Mississippi State
12. Vanderbilt

LOHD Blog Posts

• 3 Gamecock Newcomers that will have a Impact in '09
• Gibson Commits to USC, another OL
• Orrin & the BCS
• USC RB Target Marcus Lattimore on the Record