lacene
03-25-2007, 10:49 AM
USC finds a catch at TE
Procha makes two catches at new position; Smelley struggles in scrimmage
By JOSEPH PERSON
jperson@thestate.com
South Carolina has not had a dangerous, pass-catching tight end since ... well, it has been a while.
But Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier might have found one in the strangest place — among the team’s safeties. Nick Prochak, a high school quarterback who came to USC as a safety, caught two passes for 12 yards Saturday to conclude an impressive first week of spring practice.
“Prochak’s going to be an excellent tight end for us. I’m going to predict that right now,” Spurrier said. “He’s a natural. He can catch the ball. He knows how to get open.”
Prochak signed with USC last year after passing for 1,791 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior at Spartanburg High. Slotted as a safety at USC, Prochak redshirted last season after undergoing shoulder surgery.
The 6-foot-3, 226-pound Prochak gained about 15 pounds while sidelined with the injury, prompting coaches to move him to tight end. With veterans Andy Boyd and Robert Pavlovic both injured, Prochak was the lone scholarship tight end for much of the first week.
It took him four practices to catch Spurrier’s eye.
“I feel very good that he’s even talking me up,” Prochak said. “I’m still very new at the position, so I’ve got a long way to go.”
Smelley struggles. Freshman quarterback Chris Smelley, who is competing for the No. 2 spot, did not have a good day. The right-hander was 4-of-9 for 14 yards with an interception.
“He’s got to get quicker. His decision-making and his thought process has got to speed up,” Spurrier said. “He’s still back at that little private school, he thinks.”
Coming attractions. Two of USC’s incoming freshmen — Richland Northeast safety Mark Barnes and Cheraw defensive end Cliff Matthews — were in attendance. Barnes had his left arm in a sling following surgery to repair a torn labrum and ligaments in his shoulder.
“I’ve got two more weeks until I get out of the sling. After that, I’ll just make history,” said Barnes, who expects to be fully qualified academically.
Extra points. Tailback Cory Boyd (right hamstring) and receiver Freddie Brown (right quadriceps) sat out Saturday and are day-to-day. ...
Backup cornerback Aubrey McKay, a 28-year-old walk-on from Darlington, has quit the team. “He missed some classes and had an early-morning run,” Spurrier said. “He just decided all that wasn’t that important to him.”
Looks like our receivers are starting to take form, with Larry Freeman - who was projected to play TE - catching everything in sight and being moved to WR. He's making a strong argument for himself to be the first-game starter opposite of McKinley (although Culliver may have something to say about that when he joins the team in the fall). Now Prochak is looking good at TE.
Procha makes two catches at new position; Smelley struggles in scrimmage
By JOSEPH PERSON
jperson@thestate.com
South Carolina has not had a dangerous, pass-catching tight end since ... well, it has been a while.
But Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier might have found one in the strangest place — among the team’s safeties. Nick Prochak, a high school quarterback who came to USC as a safety, caught two passes for 12 yards Saturday to conclude an impressive first week of spring practice.
“Prochak’s going to be an excellent tight end for us. I’m going to predict that right now,” Spurrier said. “He’s a natural. He can catch the ball. He knows how to get open.”
Prochak signed with USC last year after passing for 1,791 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior at Spartanburg High. Slotted as a safety at USC, Prochak redshirted last season after undergoing shoulder surgery.
The 6-foot-3, 226-pound Prochak gained about 15 pounds while sidelined with the injury, prompting coaches to move him to tight end. With veterans Andy Boyd and Robert Pavlovic both injured, Prochak was the lone scholarship tight end for much of the first week.
It took him four practices to catch Spurrier’s eye.
“I feel very good that he’s even talking me up,” Prochak said. “I’m still very new at the position, so I’ve got a long way to go.”
Smelley struggles. Freshman quarterback Chris Smelley, who is competing for the No. 2 spot, did not have a good day. The right-hander was 4-of-9 for 14 yards with an interception.
“He’s got to get quicker. His decision-making and his thought process has got to speed up,” Spurrier said. “He’s still back at that little private school, he thinks.”
Coming attractions. Two of USC’s incoming freshmen — Richland Northeast safety Mark Barnes and Cheraw defensive end Cliff Matthews — were in attendance. Barnes had his left arm in a sling following surgery to repair a torn labrum and ligaments in his shoulder.
“I’ve got two more weeks until I get out of the sling. After that, I’ll just make history,” said Barnes, who expects to be fully qualified academically.
Extra points. Tailback Cory Boyd (right hamstring) and receiver Freddie Brown (right quadriceps) sat out Saturday and are day-to-day. ...
Backup cornerback Aubrey McKay, a 28-year-old walk-on from Darlington, has quit the team. “He missed some classes and had an early-morning run,” Spurrier said. “He just decided all that wasn’t that important to him.”
Looks like our receivers are starting to take form, with Larry Freeman - who was projected to play TE - catching everything in sight and being moved to WR. He's making a strong argument for himself to be the first-game starter opposite of McKinley (although Culliver may have something to say about that when he joins the team in the fall). Now Prochak is looking good at TE.