lacene
07-31-2007, 07:39 AM
USC reloads at receiver
New recruits will get most of the focus, but a returning starter may be the best of the bunch
By JOSEPH PERSON - jperson@thestate.com
http://media.thestate.com/smedia/2007/07/31/07/203-31gamecocks.embedded.prod_affiliate.74.jpg
McKinley
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier believes a lot of people are overlooking Gamecocks receiver Kenny McKinley — Spurrier included.
“We were watching the highlight tape the other day. I forgot about all the big touchdown catches Kenny made and the tough catches he made over the middle,” Spurrier said. “Got hit, clobbered — he still hung on to the ball.”
When USC opens camp Saturday night, Spurrier’s staff will look to the highly ranked freshman receiving class to find a replacement for the record-setting Sidney Rice. But the Gamecocks’ best pass-catcher might be a former high school quarterback who has been in their midst all along.
“(McKinley) might be a lot better receiver than a lot of people know about right now,” Spurrier said Monday following his annual media golf outing. “I don’t think he made all-conference first or second team. ... Didn’t make third. Somebody hasn’t watched him as much. But he’ll get a lot more opportunities this year.”
McKinley, a junior from Mableton, Ga., averaged 67.7 receiving yards per game in 2006 — 10th best in the SEC and sixth among returning receivers. McKinley’s 51 receptions and 880 receiving yards ranked among the top-10, single-season performances in USC history.
But McKinley got lost at times in the 6-foot-4 shadow of Rice, who bolted for the NFL with two years of eligibility remaining following two of the most prolific seasons by a USC receiver.
With Rice gone to the Minnesota Vikings as a second-round pick, McKinley will have ample opportunity to make catches — and make a name for himself in the process. While USC coaches trust McKinley’s ability to pull down balls in traffic and survive big hits in the slot, they also know they need a speedy receiver to stretch defenses and a rangy one to fill Rice’s former role on fade routes.
After no upperclassmen emerged in the spring to grab those spots, Spurrier hopes to find the answers in a five-man, freshman receiver class rated the nation’s best by Rivals.com.
Gamecocks receivers coach Steve Spurrier Jr. has high hopes for the quintet of Jason Barnes, Chris Culliver, Joseph Hills, Dion Lecorn and Matt Clements. Spurrier Jr. called the class as good a receiving crop as Florida’s 1994 class that included future Gator greats Reidel Anthony, Jacquez Green, Ike Hilliard and Travis McGriff.
“It’s going to be a fun preseason. I’m going to coach all those freshmen hard and try to find out who’s ready to play,” Spurrier Jr. said. “Hopefully (I) can identify that guy — one, two, three guys — and start coaching him harder.”
Spurrier Jr., who expects to redshirt a couple of the freshmen, said the 6-4 Barnes arrives as the most polished receiver after playing in the sophisticated passing offense at Charlotte’s Independence High, which also produced former Florida quarterback Chris Leak.
But the player creating the biggest preseason buzz is Culliver, who, like McKinley, was not a high school receiver. Culliver, who earned his five-star recruiting ranking as a defensive back and return specialist, has reportedly run the 40-yard dash in 4.28 seconds.
“I’m interested in watching Chris Culliver go deep,” Spurrier said. “I can’t wait to see a long one in the air and see what Chris does as he’s running towards it.”
Spurrier knows what McKinley can do. In a month, he will know a lot more about the rest of his receivers.
The State | 07/31/2007 | USC reloads at receiver (http://www.thestate.com/gamecocks/story/133109.html)
I think we are going to be fine at WR for this season - I think we'll have more options as far as dependable receivers than we had last season. I believe McKinley will catch around 1,000 yds and 10 TD's. I'm not sure if we will have another WR that will receive around 1,000, or even around the 800 or so that McKinley received last season, but we just might. Either way, we will (IMO) have 2 or 3 that will receive around 400-600 yds each, maybe more, in a rotation. Add to that Cory's receiving yards and what we get out of our TE position, and we will have a solid passing offense....
New recruits will get most of the focus, but a returning starter may be the best of the bunch
By JOSEPH PERSON - jperson@thestate.com
http://media.thestate.com/smedia/2007/07/31/07/203-31gamecocks.embedded.prod_affiliate.74.jpg
McKinley
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier believes a lot of people are overlooking Gamecocks receiver Kenny McKinley — Spurrier included.
“We were watching the highlight tape the other day. I forgot about all the big touchdown catches Kenny made and the tough catches he made over the middle,” Spurrier said. “Got hit, clobbered — he still hung on to the ball.”
When USC opens camp Saturday night, Spurrier’s staff will look to the highly ranked freshman receiving class to find a replacement for the record-setting Sidney Rice. But the Gamecocks’ best pass-catcher might be a former high school quarterback who has been in their midst all along.
“(McKinley) might be a lot better receiver than a lot of people know about right now,” Spurrier said Monday following his annual media golf outing. “I don’t think he made all-conference first or second team. ... Didn’t make third. Somebody hasn’t watched him as much. But he’ll get a lot more opportunities this year.”
McKinley, a junior from Mableton, Ga., averaged 67.7 receiving yards per game in 2006 — 10th best in the SEC and sixth among returning receivers. McKinley’s 51 receptions and 880 receiving yards ranked among the top-10, single-season performances in USC history.
But McKinley got lost at times in the 6-foot-4 shadow of Rice, who bolted for the NFL with two years of eligibility remaining following two of the most prolific seasons by a USC receiver.
With Rice gone to the Minnesota Vikings as a second-round pick, McKinley will have ample opportunity to make catches — and make a name for himself in the process. While USC coaches trust McKinley’s ability to pull down balls in traffic and survive big hits in the slot, they also know they need a speedy receiver to stretch defenses and a rangy one to fill Rice’s former role on fade routes.
After no upperclassmen emerged in the spring to grab those spots, Spurrier hopes to find the answers in a five-man, freshman receiver class rated the nation’s best by Rivals.com.
Gamecocks receivers coach Steve Spurrier Jr. has high hopes for the quintet of Jason Barnes, Chris Culliver, Joseph Hills, Dion Lecorn and Matt Clements. Spurrier Jr. called the class as good a receiving crop as Florida’s 1994 class that included future Gator greats Reidel Anthony, Jacquez Green, Ike Hilliard and Travis McGriff.
“It’s going to be a fun preseason. I’m going to coach all those freshmen hard and try to find out who’s ready to play,” Spurrier Jr. said. “Hopefully (I) can identify that guy — one, two, three guys — and start coaching him harder.”
Spurrier Jr., who expects to redshirt a couple of the freshmen, said the 6-4 Barnes arrives as the most polished receiver after playing in the sophisticated passing offense at Charlotte’s Independence High, which also produced former Florida quarterback Chris Leak.
But the player creating the biggest preseason buzz is Culliver, who, like McKinley, was not a high school receiver. Culliver, who earned his five-star recruiting ranking as a defensive back and return specialist, has reportedly run the 40-yard dash in 4.28 seconds.
“I’m interested in watching Chris Culliver go deep,” Spurrier said. “I can’t wait to see a long one in the air and see what Chris does as he’s running towards it.”
Spurrier knows what McKinley can do. In a month, he will know a lot more about the rest of his receivers.
The State | 07/31/2007 | USC reloads at receiver (http://www.thestate.com/gamecocks/story/133109.html)
I think we are going to be fine at WR for this season - I think we'll have more options as far as dependable receivers than we had last season. I believe McKinley will catch around 1,000 yds and 10 TD's. I'm not sure if we will have another WR that will receive around 1,000, or even around the 800 or so that McKinley received last season, but we just might. Either way, we will (IMO) have 2 or 3 that will receive around 400-600 yds each, maybe more, in a rotation. Add to that Cory's receiving yards and what we get out of our TE position, and we will have a solid passing offense....