:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67421951/usa_today_13731107.0.jpg)
If you asked me a couple months ago how exciting these quarterbacks would be or even about the depth chart, I would have viewed it as a non-story, but things are picking up in Columbia.
After Ryan Hilinski took over for the injured Jake Bentley early in the 2019 season, we viewed him as this team’s quarterback of the future, but it may be time to pump the brakes.
According to a source close to WACH Fox’s Mike Uva, the starting quarterback position for the Gamecocks could very well be Collin Hill’s job.
According to a source close with USC football, Collin Hill has been looking strong throughout camp & showed “good control of the offense” in yesterday’s closed scrimmage. That same source went on to say, “at this rate he’s on the verge of being named the Week 1 starter.” @wachfox
— Mike Uva (@Mike_Uva) September 6, 2020
Coming into camp, Hill, a graduate transfer from Colorado State, was thought of as a guy joining the program to compete for the backup gig with freshman quarterback Luke Doty, but Hill’s grasp of the playbook has turned some heads of the coaching staff.
This isn’t to say Hilinski has taken a step back either. According to coach Muschamp, he has been “throwing the ball well” and has “grown tremendously.”
On the flip side, Hill was referred to as “a tough guy with a great arm who has earned the respect of the team.”
If Hilinski were to take a seat, though, it would likely be a decision that the fans would have to warm up to.
Despite having only been at the university for a season, he has brought suicide awareness not only to Williams-Brice Stadium but across the country. He had fans write “Hope never sinks” on their chests in response to a distasteful headline from The State newspaper. He even led a prayer circle at the end of games.
To take him out of the spotlight would be tough, but this fanbase also loves wins, which were hard to come by last season.
Although Hilinski played very well out of the gate against Charleston Southern and Alabama, he quickly cooled down and led the Gamecocks to a meager four wins, one of which (Georgia) he got knocked out of halfway through.
It seems as though the Gamecocks have a good problem on their hands, though: two good, deserving quarterbacks. The thing is, only one can get the starting gig.
A decision is on the horizon as well as USC starts their prep for Tennessee this week. We should know more answers to our questions very soon.