QB rotation, Luke Doty’s role and other South Carolina spring practice observations
Spring practice for 2024 kicked off for South Carolina football team on Tuesday morning. While it was technically the first day of the spring season, temperatures were in the 40s when the Gamecocks started their workout.
Media members were allowed to observe the first six periods of practice. Here are some observations:
LaNorris Sellers is QB1
LaNorris Sellers started spring practice as the team’s No. 1 quarterback and took first-team reps on Tuesday. The redshirt freshman looks to be in line replace Spencer Rattler, who will be an NFL Draft pick next month.
Vanderbilt transfer Robby Ashford took second-team reps Tuesday, and S.C. native and Oklahoma transfer Davis Beville took third-team reps. Freshman Dante Reno was the fourth QB on the first day of spring.
Luke Doty dressed as QB, moves around
Senior Luke Doty was wearing a green jersey designated for quarterbacks but did everything but practice with the other USC signal callers during the media viewing period that lasted about 30 minutes.
Doty is listed the only player listed as an “athlete” on USC’s roster — he was considered a QB last year but played receiver — and is expected to make the transition back to receiver this year. The former Myrtle Beach High standout has played both positions since arriving in Columbia.
Doty took reps with the third team at receiver. He also returned kickoffs during the special teams period. He was joined at kick returner by Jared Brown, Mazeo Bennett, Tyshawn Russell and Oscar Adaway.
Running back JuJu McDowell was among those returning punts with Jalon Kilgore and DQ Smith.
Anderson in starting OL rotation, other notes
Markee Anderson had his freshman season cut short because of injury last but is off to a good start for 2024. The former Dorman High standout got first-team reps at guard Tuesday. He missed all of last season with a knee injury.
Joining Anderson on the offensive line was Jakai Moore, Vershon Lee, Trovon Baugh and Cason Henry.
In the brief drill that offered a glimpse of a potential depth chart, McDowell was the first-team running back. Transfers Jared Brown and Gage Larvadain worked with first-team receivers. Returner Josh Simon and transfer Brady Hunt were at first-team tight end.
On the second-team behind with Ashford was running back Djay Braswell, receivers Tyshawn Russell, Ahmari Huggins-Bruce, tight ends Nick Elksnis, Reid Mikeska and offensive linemen Josiah Thompson, Kamaar Bell, Torricelli Simpkins, Blake Franks and Aaryn Parks. Thompson and Franks are both freshmen and early enrollees.
The third-team consisted of Beville, running back Oscar Adaway III, receivers Debron Gatling, Doty, tight ends Connor Cox and Maurice Brown and offensive linemen Tree Babalade, Jatavius Shivers, Ryan Brubaker, Mac Walters and Kam Pringle, who was wearing an ankle brace.
No Nyck Harbor
No surprise, but Nyck Harbor wasn’t spotted during the media’s viewing of practice. The sophomore receiver also is a member of the Gamecocks track and field team. It wasn’t immediately known how he will split his time between both teams this spring.
Recruits visiting
There were several high school prospects in attendance, including five-star offensive lineman Solomon Thomas of Raines High School in Jacksonville, Florida.
The 6-foot-4, 315-pound junior committed to Florida State last year, but he’s still drawing interest from other schools, including the Gamecocks. According to 247Sports, Thomas plans to visit LSU on Saturday, Florida on April 5 and Miami on April 12.
The 247Sports Composite ranks Thomas as the 13th-best prospect for Class of 2025, and the On3 Industry rankings has him at No. 21.
Other prospects spotted on Tuesday included four local targets: Irmo quarterback AJ Brand and receiver Donovan Murph; Ridge View WR Jordon Gidron; and Heathwood Hall’s Onnis Konanberry.
All four players have USC offers. Konanberry said USC will get an official visit but he hasn’t set up the date yet. He also has official visits planned to Tennessee, North Carolina, Utah and Penn State.
Brand also plans to visit Virginia Tech later this month and Central Florida and Memphis next month.
