Starting quarterback one of several outstanding issues
While the question on many fans' minds might be the physique of wide receiver Alshon Jeffery after his uniform didn't quite fit correctly on the Sports Illustrated cover, there are more questions to be answered regarding the South Carolina offense.
With the season only days away, the Gamecocks will head to Charlotte looking to settle several competitions from fall camp.
Who will back up Marcus Lattimore at running back? Who will redshirt this season? And, topping the list, who will be the starting quarterback?
For fifth-year senior Stephen Garcia, the ongoing battle with sophomore Connor Shaw for the position under center is nothing that either of them isn't accustomed to by now.
"It is what it is," Garcia said. "We've been doing this for two years now and we know how to deal with it. It's really nothing to us."
Making the competition more interesting, however, has been the lack of separation between the two over the course of fall practice. In last Wednesday's scrimmage, Shaw was 8-9 passing with 100 yards and a touchdown, while Garcia was 9-13 with 136 yards and a touchdown, evidence that the level of play between the two of them has been too close to call.
"Connor's done pretty well," coach Steve Spurrier said. "He's throwing it around, zipping it around. He can make all the throws. Stephen did a lot better [in the scrimmage], although he had a couple errant mental errors that hopefully he can learn from."
For Shaw, having a year in the program behind him has made a significant difference in this year's fall camp.
"Last year, coming out as a freshman, you're kind of shell-shocked when you get out there," Shaw said. "Right now, I'm much more relaxed and comfortable and I just feel like I've been here for a few years."
Along with the quarterback competition, the battle for the No. 2 running back spot also remains undetermined, with Kenny Miles, Shon Carson and Brandon Wilds all in the hunt for the job. For now, Miles is the guy. But that could change.
"I think as far as who is going to be the No. 2 and No. 3 guy, it needs to be decided probably in the game," said running backs coach Jay Graham. "I think as we go through the early part of the season, we'll find out on that. They've all been doing very well."
Once the battle is decided, it remains a possibility that freshmen Carson and Wilds could be candidates for a redshirt in 2011.
"We're still going to look at them, but they're doing a good job," Graham said. "They're competing very well, breaking tackles, and making some big plays. They're making it hard. It's a competitive position so it's been good."
At fullback, the competition was strained as both Dalton Wilson and Matt Coffee were injured early in preseason camp, though Wilson is expected to earn the starting spot, while Justice Cunningham is set to start at tight end.
For wide receivers coach Steve Spurrier Jr., the answers to the questions are harder than they seem, though he has named the top four receivers as Jeffery, Ace Sanders, D.L. Moore and Jason Barnes.
"This isn't like the NFL where you declare the four you're going to keep and cut the rest of them," Spurrier Jr. said. "We'll be week to week. They've all had a pretty good camp."
Bruce Ellington, DeAngelo Smith, Nick Jones and Damiere Byrd are also expected to see playing time in the season opener, while Spurrier Jr. hopes to redshirt Shamier Jeffrey and K.J. Brent.
Just as the receiving corps is set for the most part, so is the offensive line. The unit has had a strong camp going against what many believe will be an elite defensive line this season.
"We try to allow as few sacks as possible," said offensive tackle Kyle Nunn. "We want to have the fewest number of sacks in the SEC. We want to give Marcus 200 yards rushing a game, and we want to just get rid of the errors."
While these questions continue to linger, the answer to whether the team is anxious to start the season is unanimous across the board.
"I think we're tired of playing against each other and hitting each other," Garcia said. "That game can't come soon enough."