Spurrier says two players are leaving

USC football coach Steve Spurrier, speaking at the Gamecock Fanfest in Atlanta Tuesday night, announced that receiver Lamar Scruggs and running back Eric Baker are transferring to Appalachian State. 

Scruggs played in seven games last season starting two but did not catch a pass.  He caught 3 passes for 53 yards as a freshman in 2010.

Baker spent four seasons with the Gamecocks and was honored with the departing players prior to the Clemson game, so his return was not expected.  However, he did participate in spring practice.  Last season Baker appeared in seven games rushing for 12 yards.  He missed all of the 2010 season following a knee injury.  He rushed for 182 yards as a freshman in 2008. 

Their departures leave USC unofficially with 89 scholarship players on the roster for 2012 including the incoming freshman class.

 By: Justin Stevens

Lattimore selected as a preseason All-American by Phil Steele

Marcus Lattimore, junior running back, has been selected to the preseason first team All-American by Phil Steele. Lattimore rushed for 818 yards, 10 touchdowns in seven games last season before tearing his ACL against Mississippi State. Lattimore had 182 yards receiving and one touchdown in 2011 also.

Jadeveon Clowney, sophomore defensive end, joined Lattimore in Steele’s preseason All-American teams, as he was selected to Steele’s fourth team All-American. Clowney had 36 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and led the team with five forced fumbles last season, as a true freshman.

Lattimore was the only Gamecock that was selected to Steele’s preseason first team All-SEC team, but four Gamecocks were selected to Steele’s second team All-SEC including T.J. Johnson, senior center; Devin Taylor, senior defensive end; DeVonte Holloman, senior linebacker; and Jadeveon Clowney.D.J. Swearinger, senior safety, was selected to Steele’s third team and Ace Sanders, junior wide receiver, was selected to the fourth team as a punt returner.

By: Justin Stevens

USC baseball has dropped down in some of the major baseball polls after losing the last regular season series to LSU at Carolina Stadium. Baseball America has USC falling five spots down from two to seven, and the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll has USC down two spots to number four. Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll ranks to the Gamecocks at number three, the same position they held the previous week.

LSU, who won the SEC regular season title this past weekend, is ranked second in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and the Baseball America polls and tied for fifth with North Carolina in USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll. Six SEC teams are ranked in the Top 25 in each of the major baseball polls: Florida, LSU, USC, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Mississippi State.

USC will open up SEC tournament play in Hoover, AL Wednesday after gaining the top spot in the SEC East standings last weekend. USC will play the lowest seed winner out of (3) Florida/(10) Auburn or (5) Vanderbilt/(8) Georgia. USC has won the SEC title once (2004) and is 24-35 in 19 appearances in the tournament.

The USC baseball team opens play in the SEC Tournament Wednesday night

The USC baseball team departed Columbia via bus Monday afternoon for Hoover, AL, site of the SEC Baseball Tournament.  The Gamecocks are the #2 seed and will play the final game of the day on Wednesday against an opponent to be determined. 

Freshman Jordan Montgomery will start on the mound Wednesday night for the Gamecocks.

Before leaving Columbia, USC coach Ray Tanner met with the media.

AUDIO:  Ray Tanner previews SEC Tournament [15:14]

USC pre-tournament notes

Look who won the SEC East again

For the second consecutive year, South Carolina has won the SEC Eastern Division. The Gamecocks went 17-6 in the final 23 conference games to finish at 18-11, just one-half game behind SEC champion LSU. South Carolina is the No. 2 seed for the SEC Tournament and will play the final game on Wednesday against an opponent yet to be determined.

This is the sixth Eastern Division title for the Gamecocks under head coach Ray Tanner. South Carolina also won the East in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2011.

The SEC Tournament Bracket will be officially announced later this evening after all games have been completed.