GAMECOCKBOY
09-05-2006, 11:08 PM
August 26, 2006
Jasper Brinkley now the main man in the middle
Scott Hood
GamecockCentral.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in The Insiders Forum
After two seasons playing junior college football, Jasper Brinkley has quickly discovered this fall that it's a whole different ballgame in the SEC.
In short, his work and study habits on and off the football field had to change. He's had to become more focused, and familiar with far more complicated defensive schemes in order to gain consistency.
It didn't take Brinkley, a second-team junior college All-American in 2005, long to realize he's part of something special.
And that it takes a lot of work, sacrifice and self-discipline to succeed at the SEC level.
"Right now it's kind of tough because I had to settle in," Brinkley said. "I do not have time to goof off. I've got to get my head straight, stay focused, and be ready for the game."
Brinkley believes he made a smart decision by graduating from Georgia Military College in December and enrolling at USC in January. It allowed him to go through spring practice and get a head start on learning how to play middle linebacker in the SEC.
"Coming (to USC) in the winter time gave me a jump on the program and helped learn the system," Brinkley said.
Brinkley made quite an impression on Steve Spurrier early in spring practice with his aggressive, hard-hitting style. At 6-foot-2, 250 pounds, Brinkley possesses the size, speed and strength required to play the position effectively at the major college level.
In other words, he looks like a SEC linebacker, Spurrier has noted.
"I am just a regular, hard-nosed football player," Brinkley said. "I want to be around the football every time. Wherever the ball is I want to be there. I hustle every play."
Between the spring game and the one open scrimmage during fall camp, USC fans have had just two opportunities to watch Brinkley in action at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Brinkley's size is much needed because many of the other Gamecock linebackers fall into the "undersized" category. Sophomore Marvin Sapp (5-11, 215 pounds) and true freshman Rodney Paulk (6-0, 212 pounds) are battling for one of the outside linebacker spots, while Cody Wells (5-11, 212 pounds), who has two career starts, and Curtis Rice (6-1, 242 pounds) are neck-and-neck at the other outside position.
Casper Brinkley, Jasper's twin brother, remained at Georgia Military through the spring before joining his brother in Columbia the first week in July for summer conditioning.
Although he's been on campus for less than two months, Casper Brinkley is listed as first-team defensive end ahead of true freshman Eric Norwood leading into the season opener at Mississippi State on Aug. 31.
"He is doing pretty well," Jasper Brinkley said. "He came in a little bit after I did. It just means he has to work that much harder. He still gets those mental breakdowns, but he knows what is going on. He knows when he does something wrong."
Brinkley is the heart of a young defense that features several newcomers either in the starting lineup or in backup roles. As a result, the coaches had to do a lot of teaching during fall camp.
"Everybody is trying to get their assignments down, stay constant, make the right play and not the wrong play," Brinkley said. "So far everybody has been doing that. You might get some minor mistakes here and there, but we look at it on film and come out to correct it the next day."
Brinkley's backup is Yvan Banag, who is listed at 5-foot-9, 214 pounds. He's a hard-hitter who enjoyed a solid performance in the bowl game. Banag played defensive back and outside linebacker before being moved inside a short time ago.
"Banag is kind of an undersized linebacker but he's pretty good," Brinkley said. "He is adjusting. He was at stinger (strongside linebacker), but they moved him to (middle) linebacker. He is adjusting pretty well, though."
The third middle linebacker is true freshman Vandaral Shackleford, who is expected to redshirt this season. Brinkley has been pleased with his development.
One of the reasons Brinkley decided to play for USC was the opportunity to play for defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix, entering his first full season as the exclusive play-caller on defense for the Gamecocks.
"I like playing for Coach Nix. He is a very upfront person," Brinkley said. "He's going to let you know what he wants you to know. I like that about him. He is a real person."
After going up against left tackle Gurminder Thind in practice, Brinkley says he's impressed by the redshirt sophomore from Mississauga, Ontario.
He counts Thind and Cory Boyd – who is coming off a one-year suspension - as his offensive players who are most likely to astonish fans in 2006.
"Gurminder is a great player," Brinkley said. "I think he and Cory are going to surprise a lot of people this year."
The Brinkley twins led Thomson High School to the state championship in 2003 before enrolling at Georgia Military. Jasper enrolled a year earlier because Casper was held back a year in elementary school by his parents.
Before visiting USC, the Brinkleys considered Arizona State, Baylor and Kansas State. But once they got to Columbia and spoke with the coaches, they soon saw that playing for the Gamecocks was the best thing for them.
By signing with USC, the Brinkleys became the latest in a long line of players who have joined the Gamecocks after starting their careers at Georgia Military.
"We had a very good visit to South Carolina," Jasper Brinkley said. "We got to watch their practices and sit in on all of their team meetings. We really liked how their defense is so aggressive, and how physical everyone is on their defense. We thought we could fit in nicely there."
If Jasper Brinkley turns out to be as good as advertised, you can be sure USC will return to Georgia Military to mine for more talent.
Jasper Brinkley now the main man in the middle
Scott Hood
GamecockCentral.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in The Insiders Forum
After two seasons playing junior college football, Jasper Brinkley has quickly discovered this fall that it's a whole different ballgame in the SEC.
In short, his work and study habits on and off the football field had to change. He's had to become more focused, and familiar with far more complicated defensive schemes in order to gain consistency.
It didn't take Brinkley, a second-team junior college All-American in 2005, long to realize he's part of something special.
And that it takes a lot of work, sacrifice and self-discipline to succeed at the SEC level.
"Right now it's kind of tough because I had to settle in," Brinkley said. "I do not have time to goof off. I've got to get my head straight, stay focused, and be ready for the game."
Brinkley believes he made a smart decision by graduating from Georgia Military College in December and enrolling at USC in January. It allowed him to go through spring practice and get a head start on learning how to play middle linebacker in the SEC.
"Coming (to USC) in the winter time gave me a jump on the program and helped learn the system," Brinkley said.
Brinkley made quite an impression on Steve Spurrier early in spring practice with his aggressive, hard-hitting style. At 6-foot-2, 250 pounds, Brinkley possesses the size, speed and strength required to play the position effectively at the major college level.
In other words, he looks like a SEC linebacker, Spurrier has noted.
"I am just a regular, hard-nosed football player," Brinkley said. "I want to be around the football every time. Wherever the ball is I want to be there. I hustle every play."
Between the spring game and the one open scrimmage during fall camp, USC fans have had just two opportunities to watch Brinkley in action at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Brinkley's size is much needed because many of the other Gamecock linebackers fall into the "undersized" category. Sophomore Marvin Sapp (5-11, 215 pounds) and true freshman Rodney Paulk (6-0, 212 pounds) are battling for one of the outside linebacker spots, while Cody Wells (5-11, 212 pounds), who has two career starts, and Curtis Rice (6-1, 242 pounds) are neck-and-neck at the other outside position.
Casper Brinkley, Jasper's twin brother, remained at Georgia Military through the spring before joining his brother in Columbia the first week in July for summer conditioning.
Although he's been on campus for less than two months, Casper Brinkley is listed as first-team defensive end ahead of true freshman Eric Norwood leading into the season opener at Mississippi State on Aug. 31.
"He is doing pretty well," Jasper Brinkley said. "He came in a little bit after I did. It just means he has to work that much harder. He still gets those mental breakdowns, but he knows what is going on. He knows when he does something wrong."
Brinkley is the heart of a young defense that features several newcomers either in the starting lineup or in backup roles. As a result, the coaches had to do a lot of teaching during fall camp.
"Everybody is trying to get their assignments down, stay constant, make the right play and not the wrong play," Brinkley said. "So far everybody has been doing that. You might get some minor mistakes here and there, but we look at it on film and come out to correct it the next day."
Brinkley's backup is Yvan Banag, who is listed at 5-foot-9, 214 pounds. He's a hard-hitter who enjoyed a solid performance in the bowl game. Banag played defensive back and outside linebacker before being moved inside a short time ago.
"Banag is kind of an undersized linebacker but he's pretty good," Brinkley said. "He is adjusting. He was at stinger (strongside linebacker), but they moved him to (middle) linebacker. He is adjusting pretty well, though."
The third middle linebacker is true freshman Vandaral Shackleford, who is expected to redshirt this season. Brinkley has been pleased with his development.
One of the reasons Brinkley decided to play for USC was the opportunity to play for defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix, entering his first full season as the exclusive play-caller on defense for the Gamecocks.
"I like playing for Coach Nix. He is a very upfront person," Brinkley said. "He's going to let you know what he wants you to know. I like that about him. He is a real person."
After going up against left tackle Gurminder Thind in practice, Brinkley says he's impressed by the redshirt sophomore from Mississauga, Ontario.
He counts Thind and Cory Boyd – who is coming off a one-year suspension - as his offensive players who are most likely to astonish fans in 2006.
"Gurminder is a great player," Brinkley said. "I think he and Cory are going to surprise a lot of people this year."
The Brinkley twins led Thomson High School to the state championship in 2003 before enrolling at Georgia Military. Jasper enrolled a year earlier because Casper was held back a year in elementary school by his parents.
Before visiting USC, the Brinkleys considered Arizona State, Baylor and Kansas State. But once they got to Columbia and spoke with the coaches, they soon saw that playing for the Gamecocks was the best thing for them.
By signing with USC, the Brinkleys became the latest in a long line of players who have joined the Gamecocks after starting their careers at Georgia Military.
"We had a very good visit to South Carolina," Jasper Brinkley said. "We got to watch their practices and sit in on all of their team meetings. We really liked how their defense is so aggressive, and how physical everyone is on their defense. We thought we could fit in nicely there."
If Jasper Brinkley turns out to be as good as advertised, you can be sure USC will return to Georgia Military to mine for more talent.