 "Photo: Juan Blas")
 "Photo: Juan Blas")
It was a short out route to the right side. Quarterback Blake Mitchell got the ball to Noah Whiteside, and the receiver turned up the field for a big gain. It was no big deal on the second day of spring practice, except for one thing -- Whiteside felt no pain.
"My ankle is just feeling real good," the rising senior said. "I'm feeling a lot better than last season. The injury had me down a little bit."
Last season, Whiteside was supposed to be a key cog in the Cock 'n Fire offense, and in USC's first game against Central Florida, he had three catches for 76 yards and a touchdown. However, a nagging ankle injury severely limited Whiteside, and he finished the season with only seven catches for 131 yards.
Already, USC head coach Steve Spurrier was seeing a difference in his wide receiver.
"He's much improved," Spurrier said. "He's 100 percent well now. For the first time, he's cutting and running like he did last year at this time. He's ready to go."
Other members of USC's receiving corps also had strong performances during the practice.
"We don't have a lot of receivers right now, but the ones out here are working hard," Spurrier said. "Freddie Brown made some catches today. Kenny McKinley had the day, though."
In both the passing skeleton drill and the limited scrimmage, McKinley routinely got open and seemed to establish himself as the No. 2 receiver behind All-American Sidney Rice. After the practice, McKinley expressed his excitement about the opportunity to continue to play alongside Rice.
"It's fun because we know Sidney is going to do his thing," he said. "When teams start getting on him, there is going to be more pressure on us to come out and show up. I think all of us backup receivers need to step our game up to help everybody else."
Rice has received a lot of attention after his record-breaking freshman season, including an appearance in the "Next" issue of "ESPN The Magazine." When asked if the receivers teased Rice about his celebrity status, McKinley laughed and shook his head.
"Naw, that's my boy; that's my big brother," he said. "He helps me out in everything I do, so when he does good stuff, look out for us."
Notes
While Mitchell was clearly the No. 1 QB, Tommy Beecher and Cade Thompson also got numerous opportunities under center. McKinley gave his analysis: "All of those boys are looking good. They're all doing some competing out there. I tip my hat off to all of them."
After losing a lot of linemen and linebackers to graduation, Spurrier indicated there was an emphasis on coaching the new players at these positions. "We're trying to get these new linemen, offense and defense, and linebackers ready to play. It's an important spring for a lot of guys."
Running back Cory Boyd continued to look sharp in his second day of practice, especially receiving passes out of the backfield. Boyd missed all of last season because of suspension.
With the practice open to fans and media, more than 100 people showed up at the Bluff Road practice facility across from Williams-Brice Stadium. The players wore shorts and jerseys but no pads. The Gamecocks will participate in their first contact practice Thursday.
Be the first to comment on this article!