Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks held their first spring scrimmage yesterday at Williams-Brice.The stats were as follows, courtesy of Joe Person on Football:

Scoring Summary
Giles 3 run
Gilchrist 25 interception return
White 10 pass from Clifford

(Red-zone offense)
Saunders 5 pass from Garcia
LeCorn 25 pass from Shaw

Passing – Garcia 6-15-1 88 yards, 1 TD; Shaw 8-13-0 120 yards, 1 TD; Hillary 0-2-1 0 yards; Clifford 3-3-0 33 yards, 1 TD; Brindise 1-3-1 30 yards.
Rushing – Giles 8-82; Garcia 3-(-7); Maddox 4-42; Miles 2-9; Gurley 1-(-6); Shaw 3-2; Sherman 4-15; Hillary 2-18; Brindise 1-(-7).
Receiving – Jeffery 4-75; Miles 1-2; Flint 2-31; LeCorn 3-56; Moore 2-28; Sherman 2-32; Bennett 1-22; White 1-10; Saunders 1-5; Maddox 1-0.

A few interesting points to note about the scrimmage:

Quarterback report. The big news out of spring drills continues to be the stellar play of freshman early enrollee Conner Shaw. An old saying goes that the the backup quarterback is the most popular player on the team, and that continues to be the case here, as many--including, apparently, Spurrier--are wondering if Shaw has what it takes to supplant Stephen Garcia at the quarterback position.

My thinking on this issue is as follows. If Shaw is indeed good enough to challenge Garcia, then he'll get his chance to prove it over the summer, and I'm all for that. While I think, because of his experience, that Garcia is likely the guy, I want the best players on the field at all times, and if Shaw is our best quarterback, then he's our best quarterback. I also think it's clearly a good thing for Garcia to feel a bit of pressure. It will make him work harder to keep his grip on the first-team spot. All in all, it's great to have better options at quarterback this year. Just think what would have happened last year if Garcia had gone down.

However, if Shaw is not ready to start this season (and, again, I think this is likely to be the case), then I think we should do whatever we can to redshirt him and give any garbage time to Andrew Clifford or Aramis Hillary. Shaw already appears to be significantly better than either of those two players, so we should definitely keep him ready to take over if Garcia goes down. We shouldn't, though, burn a year of his eligibility needlessly, as it's very likely that--barring us signing a bluechipper over the next couple of years--he'll need to be a multiyear starter after Garcia graduates. I also really--and I mean really--do not want to see Spurrier burn that year of eligibility because he wants to keep Garcia on a short leash. Like I said, if Shaw is better, then he's better. But if that's not the case, then I believe Garcia should take just as many snaps as he did in 2009. I know Spurrier likes to have options at quarterback, but in this case he has a talented veteran who is probably the best option and a talented freshman who needs all the eligibility he can hang on to. Please, Spurrier: don't let your ego muck this situation up.

Runningback Report. The other big news we're hearing a lot about is the play of Jarvis Giles. Kenny Miles remains the first-team back, but Giles stole the show on Saturday, averaging over 10 ypc. Giles has put a lot of effort into getting his name back in the conversation for starting back, working on his game and spending time in the weightroom. I wouldn't be surprised if you see him overtake Miles by spring's end. Whatever happens, it's good to have so many options in the backfield.

Shawn Elliott. Elliott has reportedly made strides implementing the zone-read, and the results so far are positive. Of course, we were hearing this last year, and then when the season began we were--save a few key games--back to the same draw plays that Spurrier has always run, so the jury is still out on this.

Some interesting news came out of the Gamecocks' spring practice report last night. Here are some of my thoughts on what's going on.

Steve Spurrier Wants Stephen to Cut His Sacks in Half this Season

I'm glad Spurrier is keyed in on this, as sacks were perhaps the offense's biggest weakness last year. However, I got the impression that Spurrier is putting a lot of the burden of making this happen on Garcia, and that idea seems misplaced to me. Yes, it's true that Garcia could have avoided a few sacks over the course of the season by getting rid of the ball instead of holding onto it for too long or getting happy feet and trying to make a play by scrambling. At the same time, though, Garcia saved more than a few busted plays with his feet last year. Moreover, and most importantly, the real problem here isn't Garcia: it is, and always has been, the offensive line. Yes, it's important for Spurrier to coach Garcia to learn to deal with poor protection. It's more important, though, that Shawn Elliott gets this line playing a little better so we don't have so much poor protection. Because of the lack of time he had, Garcia is excused for more than a few of the sacks he took last year, and I hope Spurrier is aware of that.

Connor Shaw Played Well

Spurrier seems pretty high on this kid and he seems to be a decent, smart player. That's good, because we need a reliable backup for Garcia, as well as someone who can step into the starter role a couple of years down the road.

Garcia is Taking a Leadership Role

This is good. As it should be a for a veteran. (Did I just call Stephen Garcia a veteran? Wow.)

Patrick DiMarco Is Getting Reps at Tight End

Also a good idea, IMO. I've heard good things about Justice Cunningham, but if DiMarco is a better change of pace for Weslye Saunders, then I say go for it, especially if Brian Maddox is indeed ready to step into the fullback role.

We're Working on Improving Kickoff Coverage

Thank God.

Spring is here and with it comes spring football practice. I'm a little late getting in on the discussion here, mostly because I've been busy with basketball and that sueño known as the real world. However, better now than never, so what follows are the five questions I'm most interested in hearing about over the next few weeks, beginning with least important and moving to most.

5. How will we use Tori Gurley and Alshon Jeffery together?

We've already heard one bit of good news out of practice: the coaching staff is working on getting the twin towers on the field at the same time, with Gurley moving to slot receiver. Along with Jason Barnes and a talented group of backups, this could be one of the--if not the--best receiving corps in the conference. It will be exciting to see how they look on the field together.

4. Will special teams play improve?

There are a couple of questions here. First of all, we need to see our kickoff return coverage unit play much better. This needs to be a top priority in 2010; it's very possible to argue that our coverage unit cost us at least one big game last year--Georgia--and hurt us in others. Second of all, I'd like to see an improved return game. We have two of the faster players in the league in Chris Culliver and Bryce Sherman. It's time for us to see these guys take a couple to the house.

3. Who will end spring as the top runningback?

We were crowded at runningback last year and will be more so this year. Candidates for top spot will be Kenny Miles, who started most of last year, Brian Maddox, who started some and played a lot in short yardage situations throughout, Jarvis Giles, who was highly recruited but never broke into the rotation consistently, and Bryce Sherman, a dimunitive speedster. I think the big issue here is probably how much Giles has improved; he's probably the most explosive player of the group, but his decision making and small frame cost him last year. If he is ready to be more of a downhill runner and has put on a few more pounds, he could challenge Miles. There's been talk of moving Maddox to fullback (and last year's fullback Patrick DiMarco to tight end), which I think is a great idea, both for the team and Maddox's NFL prospects. Sherman will likely continue to play in specialty packages. Finally, of course, regardless of what happens in the spring, Marcus Lattimore will get his chance when he gets on campus in the summer.

2. How will the new faces on defense fare?

We return a good bit of talent on D, but a few longtime starters are gone, particularly Eric Norwood, Darian Stewart, and Nathan Pepper. What is more, a few of next year's projected starters, such as Chris Culliver, will be taking it easy this spring as they nurse recovering injuries. This will give us a chance to see how some of the new faces on the depth chart look. I'm especially interested in DeMario Jeffery, D.J. Swearinger, Tony Straughter, Josh Dickerson, Toquavius Gilchrist, and Melvin Ingram.

1. Can we expect improvement from the offensive line?

Despite hitting some road bumps at times, the performance of the offensive line improved last year under Eric Wolford. Can Shawn Elliott complete the job? If so, our offense has the tools and experience in place at the other positions to be one of the best in the league.

This post is intended to be a general conversation starter; please sound off with your own questions / concerns in the comments section.

This post is part of a series on the prospects of Gamecocks in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Darian Stewart

Measurements: 5'11, 216 lbs

Summary: Darian Stewart has been a starter for the Gamecocks at safety and spur since the second half of the 2007 campaign. In his early days as a starter, he was part of the forgettable late-season defensive collapse that we suffered through. Since then, though, Stewart has been a rock solid player for the Gamecocks. The hard-hitting safety has been very consistent and has made many memorable plays for us. Although he tended to fly under the radar on the league and national levels, he will be remembered fondly by Gamecocks fans.

What the Pros Have Right: Darian has an extremely versatile skill set, as demonstrated by the fact that he's played both safety and spur throughout his USC career. He believes he can play corner, safety, and linebacker at the professional level. Because of his frame and tackling ability, he projects primarily as a strong safety, but his versatility could be attractive to teams that want him both to provide depth at SS and to be a utility player for various speciality defensive packages. I could see Darian finding a place in the league in this context.

What the Pros Have Wrong: Darian's "tweener" status is going to play against him in the draft, as measurables-obsessed scouts are going to fixate on how his size, frame, and speed don't exactly fit into any recognizable categories as the NFL defines them. I'm not so sure I agree with the scouts or the NFL's general philosophy here. The NFL oftentimes has a very limited understanding of what a player can be, and while they know what they're doing to a certain degree, I don't think they should pass on a player like Darian who has proven himself to be more than capable of doing what he's asked to do. Sometimes the NFL's rigid sense of what it's looking for in players blinds it to the potential of a talent like Darian.

Are the Mocks Right?: The mocks I've seen project Darian in the 5th-7th rounds or as a free agent. I think that's probably about right, although I think teams might do well to take him earlier in that range rather than later. Although I doubt he'll ever be a star in the league, I think he could be an excellent addition in terms of rounding out depth in the defensive backfield.

This post is part of a series on the prospects of Gamecocks in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Clifton Geathers

Measurements: 6'8, 307 lbs

Summary: Clifton skipped his senior season after doing spot duty in 2008 and starting for most of 2009. Clifton had a very solid 2009, registering three 41 tackles, 8.5 for loss, 3 sacks, and a forced fumble. Much of his best play came late in the season. Gamecocks fans were disappointed that he chose to forego his final year of eligibility, as his late-season improvement sparked hopes that he would be an all-league performer in 2010.

What the Pros Have Right:  Clifton is rightly prized by scouts for his tremendous upside. He is tall, wide, strong, and fast, and his large frame suggests that he can put on even more pounds without losing much in the speed department. His steady improvement suggests that he can come through on his potential if given time and opportunity.

The pros are also rightly concerned over his lack of experience. Clifton doesn't have a ton of experience and has only shown flashes of brilliance on the field. If Clifton were to bomb after being taken high, it wouldn't be the first time a player didn't pan out after being taken based solely on physical tools. Scouts know that.

The pros are also probably right that he should have stayed one more season. I'm not saying this because I resent his choice to leave, although I certainly think we'll miss him somewhat. I'm saying this because he now has everything riding on a great combine. That's not an enviable position. If he does well, he'll be an early round pick. If he bombs, he risks not being drafted at all. If he had stayed for 2010 in Columbia, he would have likely been our sack leader and an all-league performer. That would have guaranteed him a first- or second-round selection, meaning he wouldn't have to be worrying over his status as he is right now.

What the Pros Have Wrong: Some scouts have expressed concern over Clifton's behavioral issues. I think they should be a non-issue. Clifton's run-in with disciplinary problems at the beginning of this season were a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Clifton comes from a good background, has generally been on the up-and-up, and will continue to be so in the NFL.

Fun Fact: Clifton is from a family of NFL talent that includes his brother Robert, father Robert Sr., and uncle Jumpy, the latter of whom was a star defender for many years. His brother Kwame plays for Georgia and also has a bright future.

Are the Mocks Right?: The mocks show little consensus on Clifton, which is to be expected with a player who is something of an unknown quantity. Most mocks mention how much he has riding on his combine performance, and I'd say that's right. He needs to prove his freakish athleticism there, because if he doesn't, teams will hesitate to take him based on his on-field performance.

This post begins a series on the prospects of Gamecocks in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Eric Norwood

Measurements: 6'1, 250 lbs

Summary: Norwood has been a major contributor at both DE and OLB since his freshman year. He gotten better with each passing year, finally becoming a household name around the country after an epic performance in a Gamecocks upset of then-fourth ranked Ole Miss in 2009. He was honored as a first-team Freshman All-American in 2006, first-team All-SEC in the following three years, and first-team All-American in 2009. He holds Gamecocks team records for sacks and tackles-for-loss.

Norwood is a fan favorite and indeed something of a legend in Columbia, S. C. He's been a big-game performer all his career and is a player the fans rally around. His choice to return for his senior season in 2009 and subsequent big season cemented his place in Gamecocks lore.

What the Pros Have Right: Pro scouts correctly note Norwood's draws as his pass rushing, tackling, special teams abilities, and durability. His closing speed, instincts and ability as a tackler, and ability to block kicks are well documented, and he has the skills to translate these attributes to the next level. Norwood is exceptionally durable, having played in every game over the course of his career and started 32 consecutive games. The pros do and should love that.

As far as weaknesses go, pro scouts judge that Norwood will likely only be effective as an outside linebacker in 3-4 schemes. This is probably a correct assessment. While Norwood has great instincts in coverage, his height allows bigger tight ends to pick on him underneath, and faster receivers and backs can get a step on him. These weaknesses would be exposed in 4-3 schemes. In essence, Norwood will be at his best in a limited, pass-rush specialist role in the NFL. He may be able to be an every-down linebacker on some teams, but teams with more depth will likely view him as a utility player for sure-fire passing downs.

What the Pros Have Wrong: Pro scouts seem to doubt Norwood's ability to play defensive end, with most focusing solely on him as an OLB prospect. There is some truth to this assessment: Norwood's height will prohibit him from being the kind of top-shelf pass tipper NFL teams want at DE, and his size and weight-room measurable strength give him a disadvantage against powerful NFL offensive linemen. However, one of Norwood's greatest strengths in the pass rush game is his knack for doing whatever it takes to get through the line. He has an impressive array of moves. I believe that, if he were to put on a few more pounds, he could likely be an effective DE. Of course, many teams will probably view him as more valuable at OLB, so this may be a moot point. It could be worth thinking about for teams looking for an elite pass rusher at DE, though.

Fun Fact: Norwood was considered an academic liability coming into college. However, he excelled in academics and chose to come back for his senior season to finish his degree despite projecting as a late-round pick after his junior season. He in fact finished his degree a semester early.

Are the Scouts Right?: Most mocks I've looked at project Norwood in the second to third rounds. I think this is about right. Norwood provides incredible potential as a pass rusher and special teams player, and his durability suggests that he will have a long, productive career. He's also a very positive force in the locker room and a player that teams rally around on the field. However, he's not well-rounded enough to warrant a first-round pick. In the first round, most teams will simply be looking for someone that can do more on more downs than Norwood can provide.

Follow national signing day news at SB Nation.com.

Signing Day is over the Gamecocks. We're ranked 25th at Rivals.com, 34th at Scout.com, and 18th at ESPN. We landed our first five-star recruit since 2007. We filled some key needs on the offensive and defensive lines. We lost out on some guys that we thought we had a good shot at, particularly Eric Mack, John Fulton, Justin Parker, and Sean Tapley. At the end of the day, Steve Spurrier and Shane Beamer seem pleased with their work.

So, how did we do?

As usual, it's difficult to rate a recruiting class until you've seen the guys on the field. Plenty of three-star talent--which we picked up quite a bit of this year--turns out to be better than four-star talent. Eric Norwood and Sidney Rice are witnesses to this fact. Moreover, the services are notoriously unreliable, often jacking up the rankings of unsigned players to build hype and tending to award higher rankings to the players that are signed with name-brand schools.

At the same time, outside a few programs that seem to be perennially good despite not recruiting many blue-chippers, there's a pretty strong correlation between having great recruiting classes every year and competing for titles. The teams that have won SEC titles this decade are the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Auburn Tigers, the Florida Gators, the Georgia Bulldogs, and the LSU Tigers. The latter three--each of which has multiple titles--are in the top 10 in recruiting every year, and the former two had been when they won their titles. The Arkansas Razorbacks are the only team that has played in the title game lately who don't always recruit extremely well, and even they had a slate of mega-talents when they went. All this suggests that you have to do well very consistently on signing day to get to the highest peaks of the college football world.

With that in mind, I'm a little ambivalent about this class. I like the players we got and share Spurrier and Beamer's optimism. However, if our goal is to win SEC titles, we didn't reel in the kind of class that you need to make it happen. Sure, we got plenty of great players, many of whom could have played anywhere they wanted to. We didn't get as many of them, though, as the Gators, Tigers (both LSU and Auburn), Tide, Dawgs, and Vols did. That's not good. It doesn't matter if we continued to widen the gap between outselves and Vandy and UK. We're past the point of needing to establish our superiority to those programs and at the point of needing to place ourselves more consistently with the heavyweights. I'm not sure we did that this time around.

If you look at our recruiting rankings over the years, an obvious pattern begins to reveal itself. Let's go back to 2007. According to Rivals.com, we raked in the sixth best class in the country that year. Then, in 2008, we fell off a bit, finishing 22nd. In 2009, we turned in a very nice class, finishing 12th. Then, this year we finish 25th. See what's happening? We're not stacking monster classes, but rather getting them every other year. That's not the case for the conference's powers, and we shouldn't be too surprised when we see the results on the field, particularly late in the season when depth becomes an issue.

What are we to do? Well, Spurrier seemed to have the idea in his press conference when he pointed out that we need to finish better. To get the big recruits, you have to prove that when they come here, they're going to be winners. Now, I think it's a little unreasonable at this point to expect our team to dominate the conference. We need to get the right players in here to do that. However, the Florida and Alabama games haven't been the only losses over the last few years. We've had inexcusable perfromances against teams like Vandy, Arkansas, UConn, and, yes, Clemson that we should have won. Win more of those, and we finish ranked the last three years. That would perhaps give us the argument we need to bring in the players in that we need to get to the very top.

If it sounds like I'm a little unhappy with this class, I should say that I'm not. We got some great players, filled some needs, and should be in position to compete over the next few years. We're not, though, quite where we want to be yet.

This is an open thread to discuss national signing day. A few things to keep in mind:

• Sean Tapley is possibly going to decommit and sign with the North Carolina Tarheels. I hope we can keep the speedy Tapley, but we probably should have seen this coming after we picked up Ace Sanders's commitment. Other than Tapley, it sounds like we're probably going to keep this class together.
  
• Justin Parker is set to announce later today. Most signs seem to indicate Clemson at this point, but it's never over till it's over.
• The rumor that we're going to get a surprise commit is still going strong. These rumors happen yearly, so take it with a grain of salt. This one seems to have picked up a good bit of steam, though, so it's worth keeping your hopes up for. Word is that it's a committed player from another SEC school who fills a need but is not a national name.