Giles states his case in scrimmage

With Marcus Lattimore looking on, South Carolina’s most recent phenom tailback showed Saturday he intends to be more of a factor in his second season.

Jarvis Giles rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown on eight carries in the Gamecocks’ first spring scrimmage. Giles was patient on the inside zone-read plays, breaking one outside for a 50-yard gain – the longest play of the day – to set up his 3-yard touchdown a few plays later.

Giles said he likes the read plays that offensive line coach/run game coordinator Shawn Elliott is employing this spring. He also has worked to improve his attitude after sulking at times last year when he was the forgotten man in the backfield.

Giles was criticized by some fans and observers for leaving the field in the waning moments of the Papajohns.com Bowl – a game in which he did not have a carry.

Giles said Saturday he was more upset with the team’s lack of effort in the 20-7 loss to UConn than his lack of involvement.

“I didn’t like that. Nobody came out there with the heart. Nobody wanted to compete with those guys, and I got mad,” Giles said. “So when that buzzer hit, I walked out and Akeem (Auguste) walked out. He was like, ‘Bruh, this is some bullcrap.’

“The team, we all had a little (talk). We were like, ‘This year we’re fixing to work.’”

Giles said he’s more concerned with himself than Lattimore, the incoming freshman from Byrnes who was ranked by at least one recruiting site as the nation’s top tailback.

“I’m not worried about that. I’m just out here competing, trying to get better, do what I can for the team,” Giles said.

The Tampa native said that, despite Internet rumblings, he never seriously considered transferring.

“I just figured I owed myself. I made excuses for myself (last season),” he said. “Pretty much I accepted the fact that I have to work a little bit harder. Nothing’s going to be given to you. So I have to go out there and take it.”

Other highlights and interesting tidbits from the scrimmage:

–Steve Spurrier said he will have a second quarterback ready to play next year. And it is looking more and more like that guy will be freshman Connor Shaw.

Shaw was the leading passer, completing 8 of 13 throws for 120 yards and a touchdown. He showed nice touch on his passes, lofting a nice throw to D.L. Moore on what Spurrier said was one of the best post throws he’s seen in a while.

Unfortunately, Moore dropped it when a D-back flashed in front of him at the last second.

Spurrier seems determined to spend more time with the backup QB this year than he did last year with the now-departed Reid McCollum. Part of that is that Garcia is a year older and more established.

Still, Spurrier wants someone to push Garcia and keep him focused.

“We will have two ready to play next year. That’s the first time in my coaching career of about 28 years only had one guy that could play,” Spurrier said.

“We will play two if the first guy doesn’t play the way the coaches ask him to play, just like at left guard or safety or wherever. You’ve got to demand your players play the way you coach ‘em the play. We’ve not done a good job of that around here. We’re going to try to do a better job next year.”

Shaw, who has only been on campus for three months, has quickly vaulted to the top of the backup QB competition.

“I think it is mine to lose right now,” he said. “Anything can happen, but I’m trying to keep that.”

–Every year there’s a walk-on or two who come out of nowhere to grab the coaches’ attention.

This spring that guy could be cornerback Marty Markett, who is following the lead of Bryce Sherman, another former sprinter from USC’s track team who has found a home on Spurrier’s squad.

Markett, who walked on last fall but was redshirted after breaking his wrist, picked off two passes Saturday. He saved a touchdown with the first interception; the second he returned about 35 yards while showing off his speed.

“Markett is a tough little guy, a fast guy,” said Spurrier. “He may be the fastest guy on the team. He’s got a wonderful chance to earn a scholarship.”

–Good to see slot receiver Dion LeCorn running full speed again. LeCorn, who was never himself last season after breaking his leg on the final play of the spring game, had three catches for 56 yards and a touchdown.

When healthy, LeCorn gives the Gamecocks a veteran receiver who is not afraid to go over the middle and doesn’t mind blocking, either.

Scoring Summary
Giles 3 run
Gilchrist 25 interception return
White 10 pass from Clifford

(Red-zone offense)
Saunders 5 pass from Garcia
LeCorn 25 pass from Shaw

Passing – Garcia 6-15-1 88 yards, 1 TD; Shaw 8-13-0 120 yards, 1 TD; Hillary 0-2-1 0 yards; Clifford 3-3-0 33 yards, 1 TD; Brindise 1-3-1 30 yards.
Rushing – Giles 8-82; Garcia 3-(-7); Maddox 4-42; Miles 2-9; Gurley 1-(-6); Shaw 3-2; Sherman 4-15; Hillary 2-18; Brindise 1-(-7).
Receiving – Jeffery 4-75; Miles 1-2; Flint 2-31; LeCorn 3-56; Moore 2-28; Sherman 2-32; Bennett 1-22; White 1-10; Saunders 1-5; Maddox 1-0.