The best sports talk in South Carolina. For 27 years.
Bellamy finds a JC
Former Clemson running back Mike Bellamy will play the 2012 season at East Mississippi Junior College according to the Tampa Tribune’s Greg Auman who cited the school’s coach for the information.
The highly touted Bellamy was academically ineligible to remain at Clemson following the spring semester.
Bellamy will have two years of eligibility for major college football beginning in 2013 if he successfully completes the academic work at the junior college.
Jeff Luc
Former Florida State linebacker Jeff Luc and two of his former coaches at Treasure Coast High School in Port St. Lucie, FL said Monday he is interested in USC and is getting interest in return. “I’m just looking around right now but I’ve been keeping in contact with them,” Luc said. “He’s looking at USC for a visit, and as far as I know they are interested in him,” said Treasure Coast head coach Irvin Jones. “He’s still in limbo and doesn’t have anything lined up, but South Carolina is interested,” said Treasure Coast defensive coordinator Anthony Sheapard. “There are some things they have to talk about. But there’s mutual interest on both sides.” Purdue and Tennessee State are two other schools to show interest according to Jones who said Luc was not a problem child at Florida State. “He’s not a character problem kid,” the coach said. “I don’t know if he fit into what they do at Florida State.” Luc played in 19 games in two seasons with the Seminoles and made 23 total tackles.
South Aiken coach Jeremy West has seen several recruiters drop by his school this spring to take a look at DB Deandre Schoultz (5-9 175) and OL Justin Day (6-8 290). USC and Clemson recruiters have been in with the Gamecocks showing a little more interest than the Tigers. “South Carolina wants Schoultz at a one day camp and wants him to bounce around the camp to see where he would fit in best,” West said. “Coach Mangus said he liked how Day looked in pads. He wants to get him into camp to see how he works with Coach Elliott.” Vanderbilt, Duke, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, NC State, Appalachian State, The Citadel, Tennessee and Furman are some of the other schools to check out the pair this spring. West said LSU is also showing interest in Schoultz who was forced to play quarterback last season after Bo Baldwin was injured. He had 30 tackles last season and returned two punts and an interception for touchdowns. Day played defensive end last season and will be an offensive tackle this season. “They all know how green he is but they know the potential of the finished product,” West said.
Since the completion of spring football practice, SportsTalk has been traveling around the country (via airwaves of course), getting in touch with various beat writers who cover the respective opponents of both Clemson and USC for the 2012 football season. Tonight we welcomed into the program East Carolina beat writer for the Daily Reflector in Greenville, North Carolina, Nate Summers.
AUDIO: Nate Summers
East Carolina is second up on the schedule for the USC Gamecocks in 2012. The Pirates were the opener on the 2011 schedule for South Carolina, playing at Bank of America Stadium, and gave the Gamecocks quite the scare. The Gamecocks needed a late 2nd-half charge from embattled Quarterback, Stephen Garcia, to get out of Charlotte with a W. The Pirates need to replace some major parts from last season’s squad to try and contend with USC this season. Nate explains….
Sammy Watkins is a Preseason First Team Receiver and Kick Returner per Phil Steele
One of the most prestigious college football preview publications in the country is “Phil Steele’s College Football Preview”. He recently released his Preseason All-ACC team, and the Clemson Tigers dominate the list on the offensive side of the ball, representing 1/3 of the first team.
First Team All-ACC on Offense include: RB Andre Ellington; WR Sammy Watkins (who also is the first team kick returner); WR Deandre Hopkins; and C Dalton Freeman.
Quarterback Tajh Boyd represents the Tigers on the 2nd team offense. Tight End Brandon Ford is represented on the 3rd team, and Tackle Brandon Thomas rounds out the 4th team on offense.
On Defense, the loan representative on the first team for the Tigers is DE Malliciah Goodman. Sophomore Linebacker, Stephone Anthony, is on the 2nd team. Another Linebacker, Corico Hawkins, is on the 3rd team, and Safety Rashard Hall rounds out the 4th team Preseason All-ACC defensive team.
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.
SportsTalk Tweets
