Off-field questions dominate

COLUMBIA — After South Carolina's first spring football practice, coach Steve Spurrier and requested players spent more time fielding off-the-field questions than those pertaining to football.

The Gamecocks have several players in the doghouse or engaged in legal entanglements, but most everyone was in uniform and practicing Friday.

Cornerback Carlos Thomas, currently suspended for violating unspecified team behavior rules, was the only scholarship player missing from the Bluff Road practice fields. And Spurrier said the senior should be back sometime within the next week.

Walk-on safety Mike Newton also wasn't present after his arrest a week ago for disorderly conduct during the Five Points St. Patrick's Day festival.

Receivers Dion Lecorn and Matt Clements were in uniform and working out. Lecorn asked earlier this week for a jury trial for his January simple possession of marijuana charge.

Clements was with Lecorn at the time of his arrest, but was not charged. Instead, his suspension by Spurrier was related to an outstanding warrant issued by his home county in Florida for a failure to appear in court. That has since been resolved.

Additionally, the Lindsey brothers, Jordin and Dustin, were at practice. Both, according to Spurrier, are on probation for various academic and behavioral infringements.

Dustin, however, had clean-up surgery this week on his chronically injured knee and isn't expected to participate in spring drills. When he returns, Spurrier said he'd be at tight end instead of linebacker. Jordin practiced at end.

Despite an arrest for fighting and resisting arrest, and an ongoing SLED investigation of possible excessive force by Columbia, offensive lineman Kevin Young was present and practicing. Spurrier had told fans at Gamecock Club meetings that Young was not in any trouble with him.

Yellow sea

Several players were held out because of injuries.

Offensive lineman Gurminder Thind (back) and linebacker Marvin Sapp (recent hernia surgery) sat out.

Receiver Kenny McKinley (offseason toe surgery), corner Captain Munnerlyn (recovering from broken leg) and defensive tackle Nathan Pepper (recovering from knee surgery) were expected to miss or be limited in the spring.

Sapp and Pepper participated in a limited capacity in some drills that involved minimal contact.

Quick healer

Linebacker Jasper Brinkley was expected to miss some, if not all, of spring drills recovering from knee surgery. But recent, dramatic improvements allowed him to take part Friday. Spurrier did say, though, that Brinkley would likely be held out most scrimmage-type sessions throughout the spring.

"I'm definitely not 100 percent," Brinkley said. "But I'm above 60, though. I know that."

Smelley's shoulder

Chris Smelley practiced, but Spurrier revealed after practice that the redshirt sophomore in the middle of the quarterback hunt had shoulder surgery in January.

Smelley said he had part of the bone shaved in his right, throwing shoulder. The issue stemmed from an injury he suffered in last season's opener against Louisiana-Lafayette.

"I thought it would go away after the season got over, and it just persisted," Smelley said. "And, so, I went to see the doctors. They wanted to do something to it so I could practice."

Smelley said he planned to limit himself in Friday's initial workout, but didn't because of the heat of the competition between him, Stephen Garcia and Tommy Beecher. "You can't let anybody else outwork you," he said.

Young speaks

Friday was the first time Young has been available to talk about the March 2 arrest, or the investigation involving Columbia police.

The offensive lineman, who has yet to play at USC, was mum on both topics.

"I just really don't want to talk about it. It's football. It's an off-the-field situation. This is just regular spring."

Lecorn declined comment about his ongoing issue, simply shaking his head no when asked about it.

"I'm a football player," he said.

Extra points

Eric Norwood worked quite a bit Friday at outside linebacker. Spurrier said they think the All-SEC end will work well standing up. Cliff Matthews has been moved back to end after playing most of last season at outside linebacker. He moved there after Jasper Brinkley's season-ending knee injury forced a shuffle up front. ... Corner Akeem Auguste and receiver C.C. Whitlock caught Spurrier's eye with their speed. Auguste intercepted three passes during team drills. ... Garcia said he felt some "first-day jitters" Friday. He had a few errant throws, but also some good passes, according to Spurrier. ... This morning's 10 a.m. workout is open to the public.