Maddox taking advantage of opportunity

COLUMBIA — This isn't the way Brian Maddox wanted to get attention. But South Carolina's sophomore running back will take it.

With starter Mike Davis out with a mild shoulder injury, Maddox is doing his best to show he's ready for regular carries.

"It is good for me," said Maddox, the 5-10, 220-pound back from Anderson. "(Backs) coach (Robert) Gillespie tells me to seize the opportunity, seize the moment, focus on what I can do. I just have to keep working hard day in and day out, week in and week out."

Maddox rushed seven times for 48 yards and a touchdown in Wednesday evening's scrimmage. He had runs of 11, 13 and 18 yards on the first-team offense's initial drive, to help farther distance himself from freshmen Eric Baker and Kenny Miles.

His time of shouldering the load in camp might be dwindling, but Maddox said he's done enough to know he's "definitely ... getting a whole lot more carries this year."

Davis did practice Thursday in a limited capacity and head coach Steve Spurrier said afterward that he expects Davis back soon at full speed.

There's even a slight chance he'll participate in Saturday's scrimmage, but it's more likely you'll see him return early next week.

Maddox said last fall he thought he was capable of playing as a true freshman. Now, he realizes a year to sit back and watch Davis and Cory Boyd was helpful.

"It's hard for a freshman to come in right away and play," Maddox said. "It's really hard, I'd say."

Among the areas Maddox says he's improved in are reading holes, pass blocking and making the first defender miss.

High on Culliver

Spurrier said Chris Culliver has made great strides at free safety and is in position to start alongside Emanuel Cook.

"He's very easily a starter," Spurrier said. "He's been running with the first team."

Darian Stewart, the starter last year at free safety, is going to play more of a nickel specialist role in Ron Cooper and Shane Beamer's secondary.

"Nowadays, with all the spread offenses, you go with five defensive backs," Spurrier said. "Almost everybody does that."

When asked if Spurrier wishes, in hindsight, that he'd moved Culliver from receiver to safety last year, he quickly said no.

End zone isn't safe

Sophomore receiver Joe Hills sprained his toe on a touchdown catch during Wednesday night's scrimmage.

Spurrier said Hills wouldn't miss too much time and that the injury is similar to the one that tight end Jared Cook just came back from.

Freshman corner Akeem Auguste tackled Hills after he hauled in a lob pass from Chris Smelley. Spurrier applauded Auguste's play as aggressive and not dirty.

"Joe pulled a Gamecock," Spurrier said. "I guess we'll call it a Gamecock when you go in the end zone and relax. ... He was across the line but he didn't realize Akeem was trying to hustle across the line to break it up. Hopefully one day our guys will learn just because you're across the goal line the game's not over."

Getting defensive

Regarding Tommy Beecher's so-so 15-for-30 scrimmage, Spurrier wasn't quite as sour Thursday as he was Wednesday night. Spurrier credited the second-team defense, but that might be just as much of an indictment, at times, of woes by some of the receivers.

"A couple of times, Tommy had nowhere to throw," Spurrier said. "We were covered like a blanket out there. The defense did well. He just needs to throw it away sometimes and not have any hesitation."

Beecher threw for 123 yards, with one interception and one touchdown. Spurrier said he might get 30 throws in again Saturday.

Extra points

LT Jamon Meredith did a little in practice Thursday, but Spurrier said he's still a ways from practicing at full speed. ...Saturday afternoon's scrimmage, Spurrier said, will be closed to the public because the Gamecocks plan to install some of the North Carolina State gameplan.