Updates on Clements, McCollum & Saunders
Understanding this is the high season for recruiting news, we interrupt the daily Marcus Lattimore Watch for a few updates on players already on campus (but not necessarily still on the team).
Spoke with Steve Spurrier today for a Sidney Rice story, but also briefly asked him about some recent comings and goings.
Here’s what I punched up for the paper:
USC reserve receiver Matthew Clements is no longer on the team, Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier said Friday.
Spurrier did not indicate whether Clements was dismissed or left on his own. Clements, a redshirt sophomore from Naples, Fla., had two catches in nine career games.
Clements remains enrolled at USC, according to a source close to the situation. Attempts to reach him Friday were unsuccessful.
Clements becomes the second member of the Gamecocks’ 2007 receiving class, ranked No. 1 in the nation by Rivals, to leave since August. Joe Hills transferred to Tennessee State after a falling-out with the coaching staff during preseason practice.
Spurrier confirmed that backup quarterback Reid McCollum has left the program.
McCollum, who played sparingly in two games behind starter Stephen Garcia, might give up football, Spurrier said.
“He’s either leaving or just going to be a student, one or the other. I’m not sure what, yet,” Spurrier said. “That’s his decision.”
Spurrier said there might be more departures after spring practice, but did not specify which players might be transfer candidates.
“If they’re in school, they’ll get a shot through the spring,” he said. “And if it looks like some of them won’t play much at all, then they may be encouraged or they may want to go try to play somewhere (else).”
Spurrier said junior tight end Weslye Saunders could soon return from suspension. Saunders was suspended indefinitely after missing the first team meeting of the semester last week, according to sources.
“There’s a good chance he’ll be reinstated soon,” Spurrier said.
The Clements’ news is not all that surprising. You’ll recall that Clements was briefly moved to cornerback during the preseason. After returning to offense, he spent most of the year on the scout team.
Spurrier didn’t say much about which quarterback might have the inside edge on the No. 2 spot, but you can bet freshman Connor Shaw will get a long look in the spring.
And the Saunders’ news also should come as no surprise. The suspension was meant as more of a message for Saunders, who is one of the Gamecocks’ best players and certainly has the smarts and charisma to be one of the team leaders.
He seems to have gotten the message. He has taken down his Twitter page, which he often used to air his frustrations. Though it was fun to read Saunders’ musings on life and football, some of those are probably best kept to himself.
21 Comments to “Updates on Clements, McCollum & Saunders”
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USC football beat writer Joe Person has covered the Gamecocks since the start of the 2002 season. He's been on the college football beat since 1993. 
So what is the total on players bailing on Spurrier this year? Please do not count the recruits that picked South Carolina and then decided on another school. Also has Spurrier signed Scottie on as another coaching assistant yet?
Could you be any more of a loser, BlackMagic? It must be a miserable life to sit around and complain about Carolina all day, every day. I am thinking you need to meet a girl, but I guess it is hard when you live in your mothers basement.
Great news about Saunders. Spurrier should ban twittering by all players, period. Nothing good can come of it.
I am really pulling hard for Weslye to get his attitude straight and have a monster year. If he does, he could be selected in the first round of the NFL draft.
Best of luck to Clements and McCollum.
blackmagic84 you need to become a clemsux fan or something because even clemson fans don’t complain or say as bad of things about our coach or team as you do
grow up and stop crying black magic…if you need a diaper change go visit cutigers.com and see if there are any takers
hey mmartin6, i think bm84 already is a clemsux fan. he’s such a negative nancy. if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem! GO COCKS!
BM84 or the B___ Pirate, as I like to call him, is a Tater Fan. If you read some of the other newspapers in the state, you will see he is contantly posting his anti-USC drivel wherever they will let him. Get a life!
Person, what do you mean Spurrier didnt say whether Clements was dismissed or left on his own? WHY DIDNT YOU ASK HIM??? You were right there and obviously discussed several other things besides Rice. Doesn’t it seem a little idiotic that you’d information like that and NOT follow up on it immediately, since the coach is 5 feet from you? If you were told not to reveal the real reason, surely you could have phrased it a different way…couldnt you? Seriously, you are the worst. Do us all a favor and move to Kansas and start covering the Jayhawks.
Good for Saunders and good for Spurrier to get his status cleared up. I’d love to see Saunders have a stellar 2010 season and lead the New Carolina to some much deserved success.
that’s funny, because this
http://rivals100.rivals.com/TeamRank.asp?postype=0&sort=0&year=2007
says it was number 6. just like a sc fan, always trying to make the bad news into something anyways.
I thought McCollum deserveed to play some. But SOS never gave him a chance. He throws a nice ball.
McCollum was seed for AJ Green. Period. He’d be
great at Wofford. Which is not all bad look at
them in basketball. Whipping up on a SEC team
while playing the best in the country.
Can anyone tell me what happened to Eric Baker? Did he fall off the planet? I really wish Steve Spurrier would swallow his pride and hire an offensive coordinator other than his son. I think that is the missing key for the S.E.C. East.
This needs 2 b the year
If they are not going to contribute to our team, we need to help them move on to where they can. Best of luck to Reid and Matt.
Saunders told Mack and Lattimore that if they knew what he knew about USC, they would go to Auburn. Voila, suspension. Mack commits to Auburn and USC pulls his offer to save face.
Every year kids do the same thing…evacuate this sinking ship. Sanders is coming off his suspension. What is he suspended from? The OBC is a stern task master. I wonder in whose lifetime will his program here ever win more than 8 games?
Wesley, great to hear you are back, get with it man, the Sunday scouts watch more than game film, quit costing yourself draft spots.
BM84, is not good enough for Clemson fans, maybe he should post as a Georgia Bulldog or Texas Tech fan (lock him in a closet…).
We are getting better every year, remember crash diets don’t work, a change in your way of life does…
Spurrier will keep getting the job done, watch Skip for when Steve decides to become a permanent fan and golfer!!
Every year this happens at most well run programs. If it did not, I would be concerned. At least coach lets these kids get a second chance somewhere else. The ship is getting stronger.
What’s up with Chris Payne? Why was he kicked out of Fork Union Mil.Acadamy?
Bubba, the only sinking ship in SC is that rowboat full of thugs up in Tatertown. And you’ll be woefully short of liferafts once the implosion begins next season.