A look at some of the top stories from South Carolina Gamecocks camp.
DE Clowney looking for bigger 2012: Gamecocks sophomore DE Jadeveon Clowney was far from disappointing in his first year. He was voted freshman player of the year by the coaches and earned national accolades after having 36 tackles and eight sacks.
Despite an impressive freshman season, Clowney (6-6, 260) thinks he can take on a bigger leadership role. He’s already mentoring freshman WR Shaq Roland, named the South Carolina state Mr. Football, just as Clowney did in 2011.
“I have to step up and be a leader,” Clowney told the team’s official website. “I have to help my team out. I told (Roland) to just come in and play your game, don’t let the hype get you.”
Clowney is also expanding his defensive role. Coach Steve Spurrier said he could be used at LB, which Clowney is open to.
“I can play it,” he said. “It’s not a big thing to me. I played it in high school. I like it, it’s just like playing defensive end, get a read and go.”
Spurrier fine with QB McEvoy transfer: Coach Steve Spurrier doesn’t seem concerned that reserve QB Tanner McEvoy is leaving.
“We've got a lot of quarterbacks here, and, personally, I believe that was the best thing for him to do because Dylan Thompson has come along very nicely and Connor Shaw has another year," Spurrier told the team’s official website. "I don't see him beating Dylan out in two or three years. He wants to play quarterback. Quarterbacks transfer all the time. I think it's the best opportunity for him, so I hope it works out for him."
McEvoy, a redshirt freshman, was challenging Thompson to be the backup to starter Shaw. McEvoy was rated as a four-star prospect by MaxPreps.com in 2012.
WRs a work in progress: Replacing WR Alshon Jeffery is one of the big challenges the Gamecocks face in camp.
“Obviously, the best receiver gets more balls thrown at him than the other ones," Spurrier said. "Ace Sanders is probably our top guy right now, but hopefully DeAngelo Smith will come around. Bruce Ellington, Damiere Byrd is catching a lot of balls out there -- we know his speed.”
For more up-to-the minute news and analysis from SEC bloggers Larry Hartstein and Daniel Lewis, follow @CBSSportsSEC.