Norwood earns praise, honors

On the Beat: Gamecocks

COLUMBIA — After two defensive scores in the Kentucky win, North Carolina coach Butch Davis and the SEC were both left impressed by South Carolina defensive end Eric Norwood.

Davis lavished praise on the sophomore during his news conference Monday. Meanwhile, the conference named Norwood its defensive player of the week.

Norwood became the fourth player in NCAA history to return two fumble recoveries for touchdowns in the same game.

"They have a young man on the defensive side of the ball in Norwood that is as good a defensive football player as you'll see," said Davis, the first-year Tar Heels coach. "Their linebackers are very good, but, boy, Norwood is a great pass-rusher and comes up with big plays."

Norwood also blocked a punt in the Sept. 29 Mississippi State win to help greatly change momentum in that game.

"He is a very athletic and active football player," Davis said.

Norwood said it was enjoyable to watch the pair of touchdowns on film, but he was upset because there were two interception opportunities he missed in South Carolina's 38-23 victory.

Still, he was happy with the honor, the first of many he hopes.

"It's cool," said Norwood, an Atlanta area native. "It's one of those things I set in my goals. I haven't reached it, really. I set my goal to achieve it several times. So, hopefully I'll get a couple more."

Still freshman of week

Norwood wasn't the only Gamecock honored Monday by the conference.

Quarterback Chris Smelley was the league's freshman of the week for the second consecutive week in the wake of his performance against Kentucky.

Smelley started slowly and heated up in the fourth quarter, going 11 of 12 for 160 yards passing and two scores in the final period. He finished the game 17-for-30 for 256 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Coach Steve Spurrier wasn't left impressed until Smelley's late rally.

"They didn't watch him real close," Spurrier said, jabbing at the 21-year-old redshirt freshman. "He struggled. Had some good ones in the fourth, I guess."

'Ahead of schedule'

One freshman said USC's early-season success has exceeded his expectations.

"We're way ahead of schedule," receiver Chris Culliver said. "We had a big win against Georgia and another big win against Kentucky, two rated teams that we've played."

Asked if he ever thought South Carolina would be ranked ahead of Southern California — one USC over the other — he said "no."

The 5-1 Gamecocks are No. 7, a spot above the Trojans. It's the highest South Carolina has been ranked since 1984.

Downplaying the Heels

Davis is certainly downplaying his young team this week after its win against Miami.

He made the 6-point underdogs seem more like 60-point underdogs at times.

He seemed most concerned about the multiple offensive sets Spurrier has.

"Whatever you did last week, you've got to do 10, 15, 20 percent more this week, just because of the complexity of who we're playing," Davis said he told his players. "I'd say there's less sleep this week than last week. You have to cover so many bases."

Injury updates

Spurrier said receiver Freddie Brown would be questionable this week with an ankle injury, but Brown was able to practice Monday and should play Saturday.

Brown, a sophomore, has been emerging some. The sophomore has five catches for 76 yards in the past two weeks.

Center Web Brown's mildly sprained knee was healthy enough for him to practice Monday.

Reserve linebacker Gerrod Sinclair (knee) missed practice Monday. Spurrier said he thinks Sinclair will be out for a couple of weeks.

Injured linebacker Jasper Brinkley will be available today to talk to the media about season-ending knee surgery and his future at South Carolina.

-- Travis Haney