The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, August 25, 1994, Page 39, Image 39
Number 1
Jimmy PeButt? Sports Editor
The 1994 football season is about ready to
kick off and the Southeastern Conference has
four teams in the preseason top twenty.
Florida leads the group as well as the nation
I as the preseason No.l. Steve Spurrier's Gators
finished No.5 in the nation last year. The Gators
lost the services of All-SEC runningback Eric
Rhett, wide receiver Willie Jackson and placekicker
Judd Davis, but they'll continue to have
an explosive offense.
Senior quarterback Terry Dean and sophomore
Dannv Wuerffel will be at the helm again
this season for Florida. Dean started six games
for the Gators last season, while Wuerffel start
ed seven. The twosome threw for 3,800 yards
last year and 39 touchdowns.
Perhaps the biggest problem for Spurrier
this season will be trying to find someone to fill
Rhetfs spot. Fullback Chris Bilkie is the only
upperclassman in the backfield this year. Redshirt
freshmen Ely ah Williams and Tyrone Baker
will probably see a lot of action in the backfield
this year for the Gators.
The Gator defense has a new scheme for the
*94 campaign. New defensive coordinator Bob
I Pruett has installed the "Multiple 40", a 4-3-4
scheme that Gator coaches hope will continue
to be effective against the run and be more effective
against the run.
Florida's offensive line is made up of returning
starters and junior linebacker Dexter
Daniels will provide leadership for the defensive
squad. After f londa it s only a race for second
place in the SEC East. r ?!"
Tennessee, Georgia. \
O ? . -t Ty I
oouth Carolina and Ken- *
tucky all have shots at sec- j sjPmR
ond place. Sept. 3 could
have a big impact on the fi- r*?j|E2
nal standings in the SEC |
East when Georgia visits N
Williams-Brice Stadium in ^
South Carolina* Georgia is 4 "5^
led this year by Heisman "
candidate Eric Zeier.
The senior quarterback
|is coming off a season that . ^ %
saw the Bulldogs finish 5-6 *0
last year, however they have
13 returning starters in- ^ :
eluding wide receivers Ha- '"
son Graham and Brice
Hunter. Hunter set school
records for most receptions (76) in a season, most
yards (970) and touchdown receptions (9) last
year.
Graham caught five touchdown passes last
season and averaged 19.4 yards per reception.
Defensively the Bulldogs will be sending out
a young squad to keep the opposition from scoring
more than Zeier and his crew can put on the
board. Only one starter returns from last year,
but the Dawgs will have the services of Jeff
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Florida tc
Kaiser and Travis Jones who were both sidei
lined for the entire "93 campaign,
i Randall Godfrey, will anchor the linebacking
corp for Georgia this year. He led the team
with 114 tackles last season and will get help
from Whit Marshall and Marcus Williams who
both saw action in every game last season.
The Bulldogs secondary is their deepest position
but may well be the youngest. Senior Will
Muschamp and junior Buster Owens have starting
experience, but the younger players will all
by competing for playing time.
The Bulldogs have the potential for postseason
play if their defense can hold off the opposition
and allow Zeir to light up the scoreboard.
The Gamecocks will be usinp a more onen
offense this year under new head coach Brad
Scott. The team has skilled players at every position,
however the team lacks depth.
A healthy offensive line should be able to
give junior quarterback Steve Taneyhill the time
he needs to find open receivers. Senior runningback
Brandon Bennett will play a major
part in the success of South Carolina's 1994 cam,
paign.
If Bennett is able to run, it will open up pass!
ing lanes for Taneyhill to hit his wide receivers.
The Gamecock receivers will be led by senior Toby
Cates. Cates had 27 catches for 541 yards to
lead the team last year. Corey Bridges and Kurt
Frederick will also need to contribute this year
for USC to be successful. Frederick fractured his
wrist in practice and will be out four to six
weeks.
[tu* ** Vincent Dinkins and Luther
i3ju? Dixon will anchor an offensive
line that has three starters remm
turning from *93. James Dexter
iMUnxMT i<a listoH as the rvrnhahlp sfartar
fat strong guard, while Eliot
Smith and Aaron Ponder will
provide depth at tackle.
South Carolina's defense
moved to a 4-3 scheme and will
i try to capitalize on its speed and
* agility- Junior noseguard Eric
gm, || Sullivan returns to the starting
; j|Ml o lineup, while David Tumipseed
I and Stacey Evans combine for
j Carolina's best pass rushing
- ' ^ team.
B*nn?tt An important key for Gamecock
success falls on the shoulders
of the secondaiy. Tony Watkins has led the
team in tackles the past two seasons and is the
only starter returning. Terry Cousin, Reggie
Richardson and Chris Abrams will be competing
for playing time for the Gamecocks.
The downfall for USC in 1993 was losing big
leaas late in games, 11 Carolina can turn tnat
around they may be headed for their first winning
season in four years.
The Tennessee Volunteers lost their biggest
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> continue i
asset for the 1994 season to the |SBB|
NFL The loss of Heath Shuler gg|
may mean the difference be- |l
tween a mediocre year and a
bowl win.
Along with Shuler the Vols
will have to find players to fill
the spots of wide receivers
Cory Fleming and Craig H
Faulkner who combined for 79
?1 1 r%nn J ] in
recepuons, 1,6to yarns ana 11 h
touchdowns.
This years squad will be
led by fifth year senior Jerry
Colquitt who saw only limited
action on the field in 1993. flPI
However he completed 26
passes and threw four touch- [J9
downs.
Billy Williams returns as
the Vols best wide receiver. He
caught 39 passes last year and
scored five touchdowns. In the
backfield for Tennessee is 11
James Stewart, Aaron Hayden II
and Mose Phillips. These three
will get a lot more Opportunities!
witVi tVio trrarlnatoH PViar.
The offense is deep, but filling
the shoes of Shuler, Garner 1 j
and Fleming will be a difficult
task for the Volunteers. On the
defensive side, Tennessee looks
a lot better.
The defensive line is an- fig
chored by Steve White and
Shane Burton, who will have
to play big to replace big play
T- tin. __ . .1 TT . j
men dames wuson ana norace
Morris. Tennessee's tackle tandem
of Cory Stone and Leland
Taylor may be the weakest
part of the defense, they do not
have a great deal of experience
and how they play against the
run may determine Tennessees
1994 outcome.
On the bright side for UT, Holsman Trophy
their linebackers and sec- Bulldogs to a wli
ondary positions are vastly talented
and experienced. Reggie Ingram, DeRon ^
Jenkins and Jason Parker lead this unit and is
capable of keeping teams from getting a lot of r
big plays.
How well Tennessee responds to new per- ?
sonnel will determine their success in this years
season. an
The Wildcats of Kentucky finished 1993 6- ^or
6, and will be led this year by their backfield.
Sophomore Moe Williams will be joined this year an
by Donnell Gordon and Daymon Carter. Carter st?
broke all of O.J. Simpson's rushing records at Wi
the City College of San Francisco. an
ce;
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?1994 Tl. IH000181
iominatic
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111
I '- " Vv , ,':. .- .. : : - : - - .:* . /.-I
PPPF w ffr
candidate Eric Zeler is ready to take tl
ining season.
Williams gained 928 yards last season for
?a,,~1-.. 1 c* :? ti?m:u?a_ 1?a r_.?.
UlLUlIfcjr VJII J.U'1 COII ICO. lilC TfilUUltO IUSL lUUi
their top five receivers and they will have to
id replacements for them if they have hopes
bettering last years record. Randy Wyatt will
at split end this year, while Jaysuma Simms
d Isaac Curtis will see a lot of action this year
the Wildcats.
The offensive line lost four starters last year *
d will be led by senior Mark Askin who has
irted every game for the last two years for the
ildcats. The rest of the line is inexperienced
d will be an important key for Kentucky's suc3s.
If the line can give the backs holes to run
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On the other side of the ball
the Wildcats have depth. Senior
Howard Carter, sophomores
Chris Ward and Kurt Supe bring
p experience with them into the "94
season. UK lost its best linebacker
from 1993 in Marty
t Moore, but Matt Neuss, David
Snardon and Mike Schellenbeiger
will fit nicely into the linebacker
position.
The secondary will be composed
of mostly inexperienced
players, however the Wildcats
have several talented players to
replace the four starters that are
not back from *93. Senior Melvin
Johnson, Van Hiles and Kiyo Wilson
are the top candidates to
start this season.
Youth and the offensive line
will determine Kentucky's finish
in the SEC this season.
Vanderbilt finished the 1993
season with two massacres at the
hands of Florida (52-0) and Tennessee
(62-14). With the beginning
of the 1994 season the Commodores
wiD be led by sophomore
quarteiback Ronnie Gordon. Gordon
posted wins over Kentucky
and Navy before the last two
games of the year. He also rushed
for 139 yards and four touchdowns.
Ik , Vanderbilt will have to im
nrnvp crrontlv Inst, vnnrs nnmhnrs
from the quarterback position in
which 13 interceptions were
thrown without a single touchdown
being thrown. Their team
offense was ranked 104 of 106
teams in total offense last season.
****** 0 The backfield position shows
fi little hope with Royce Love and
? Durego Lewis coming back. The
* receiving unit will not give the
Commodores much more power
ie Georgia this year, they are deep, but not
explosive.
The defense is the one bright
spot for Vanderbilt. The squad gave up just
132.1 vards a crania last saasnn and sat a aahnnl
record with 29 sacks. James Manley, Brian
Boykin and Gerald Collins will lead the defense
this year, and may keep the Commodores in a
few games, giving the offense a chance to put
points on the board.
Once again the SEC proves to be one of the
most competitive conferences in the nation. Any
team is capable of winning the Eastern Division,
but the road goes through Gainesville..
The SEC West will be previewed in Monday's
Gamecock.
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