COLULMBIA, S.C. (October 16, 2013) – Four University of South Carolina football players have been named to Phil Steele’s Midseason All-SEC squads, it was announced today.
The Gamecocks had two players, running back Mike Davis and offensive guard A.J. Cann selected to the first-team unit. Defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles was a second-team selection, while defensive end Jadeveon Clowney earned third-team recognition.
Davis, a 5-9, 215-pounder from Lithonia, Ga., leads the SEC in rushing halfway through the season. The sophomore back is averaging 123.7 yards per game on the ground, the nation’s 10th-best mark. Davis is second in the league in all-purpose yards (154.5) and is tied for first in scoring (9.0). He has five 100-yard rushing games in six outings this season, with three runs of over 50 yards.
Cann, a 6-4, 314-pounder from Bamberg, S.C., is the leader of the offensive line. The junior has helped the Gamecocks average 487 yards of offense per game, nearly 60 yards better than the school record of 429, set in 1995. Carolina has used a balanced attack, averaging 226 yards on the ground and 261 through the air.
Quarles, a 6-4, 298-pounder from Hodges, S.C., leads the Gamecocks with 4.0 sacks and is second on the squad with 5.0 tackles for loss among his 15 stops. The junior has also been credited with two quarterback hurries, a pass break up and a fumble recovery.
Clowney, a 6-6, 274-pound junior from Rock Hill, S.C., has seen his stat line limited this season, but has been a focal point for every offense the Gamecocks have faced. A 2012 unanimous All-American and the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year, Clowney has a pair of sacks and 3.0 tackles for loss this season, with a team-high four quarterback hurries.
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7 comments
Clowney is on there just because of preseason hype. The way it’s going he’ll end up with a total of 6 tackles and 4 sacks for the year. Not exactly All-SEC numbers.
As the scouts say, Clowney’s production has been his disruption. It’s hard to make tackles when they double and triple team him or run away from him every play. Nevertheless, his presence is felt every game.
Ask SEC offensive coordinators whether there are any other players that cause them to completely change the way they approach their offense.
It’s even harder to make tackles when you are winded and on the bench.
It’s been said before but bears repeating – when you’re in the hunt on every defensive attack, you’ll get a little winded. If you can do better, suit up and get in a three point stance.
If so, his career in the NFL is going to be a short one. If you don’t go 110% on every play in practice (which Clowney apparently doesn’t like to attend) and in games there’s someone right behind you who wants your starting position and starting position salary. High school and college are nothing compared to where he’s headed.
When you are 6-6 with 270 pounds of all muscle and you play with the type of explosiveness and energy that Clowney plays with, YOU WILL GAS. Smaller men can handle what he cannot. The NFL knows this. They know you have to pace yourself. You are clueless if you think NFL linemen “go 110% on every play.”
In any event, neither Clowney’s effort nor conditioning has been a problem this year. He got gassed against UNC but that was because he was trying to do too much — trying to live up to the hype in just one quarter of play. Since then, he’s paced himself better, and he doesn’t really gas anymore.
Nice cover – where is the FITS’s posting on the Gamecocks loss to TN??