Gameday preview: USC vs. N.C. State

From The State

By JOSEPH PERSON
jperson@thestate.com

Five storylines for South Carolina’s season-opener Thursday against N.C. State; Q&A with safety Chris Culliver; and more.

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Five storylines

1. Can Stephen Garcia stick to the game plan?

The Gamecocks thumped North Carolina State last year despite four interceptions by starting quarterback Tommy Beecher. USC cannot expect to win if Garcia does the same this year. Steve Spurrier still will take chances downfield. What he does not want to see is Garcia abandoning the pocket and throwing “wildly tossed” interceptions. Garcia needs to stay calm, go through his reads, and throw the ball away if nothing develops.

2. Opening-game success

USC has won its past nine openers, including last year’s 34-0 victory against the Wolfpack. Spurrier is 18-1 in season-opening games as a college coach, with the lone loss coming against USC in 1989 during his final season at Duke. The Gamecocks’ defense has come strong in four openers under Spurrier, posting two shutouts and allowing just more than a touchdown a game.

3. USC’s offensive line vs. the Wolfpack’s veteran front

N.C. State starts four seniors on its defensive line, including ends Willie Young and Shea McKeen, a member of Spurrier’s first USC recruiting class who left after a series of off-the-field incidents. The ’Pack sacked Beecher five times last season. If the Gamecocks cannot protect Garcia, it will be a long night for the USC offense.

4. The Gamecocks’ depleted D-line

With half of its starting defensive front suspended, USC will turn to a number of untested linemen. Redshirt freshman Devin Taylor will start in place of Clifton Geathers at end, while the absence of tackle Ladi Ajiboye means Melvin Ingram will see significant playing time.

5. Russell Wilson’s accurate arm

The Wolfpack quarterback has thrown 249 consecutive passes without being picked off — a school record and the longest active streak in the country. Wilson, who sustained a concussion early in a 34-0 loss to USC last year, was picked off once in 2008 — in the second half against Clemson on Sept. 13.

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Five questions with Chris Culliver

The Gamecocks’ free safety went to high school in suburban Raleigh, and might have been on the N.C. State sideline Thursday night if not for the Wolfpack’s coaching change a few years ago. Culliver will start at safety, but could get reps at cornerback, as well.

How have you liked corner?

Corner’s been good. Coach (Lorenzo Ward) wanted me to play corner real bad. I’m up for whatever — corner, safety. Whatever to help my team out is what I have to do.

Which do you think is your better position?

I like playing safety because I can see everything. But as far as playing corner, it’s real good to lock down the receiver. If the ball comes to him, I just try to make a play.

Were you an N.C. State fan?

No, because I wasn’t really raised there. I was raised in Philadelphia.

Did State come after you hard?

Yeah, I was actually committed to them. But then I de-committed. Chuck Amato had left and all that stuff. So I decided to go elsewhere, and (USC is) the best place for me.

Think you would have gone there if Chuck the Chest had stayed?

It’s a possibility. He was on me pretty hard. So it’s a possibility.

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Injury Report

USC — WR Dion LeCorn (leg) and CB Jay Spearman (shoulder) are out; WR DeMario Bennett (shoulder) is probable.

N.C. State — TE Mario Carter (knee), OL Denzelle Good (shoulder), LB Nate Irving (leg), FB Colby Jackson (knee) and QB Everett Proctor (shoulder) are out.

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Game Within the Game: USC OT Jarriel King vs. NCS DE Willie Young

--- About King: The North Charleston native was a part of Steve Spurrier’s first USC recruiting class in 2005, but did not make it to campus until last year. He was inserted into the lineup the second week of the season, and ended up starting 11 games. King underwent surgery during the offseason to correct an irregular heartbeat.

How he’ll win the matchup: The 6-foot-5, 312-pound King should be in good shape if he is able to lock out his long arms on Young. He might get occasional help from a tight end, but the job of protecting Stephen Garcia’s blind side will fall largely on King.

Key number: 3, number of former Georgia Military offensive lineman on USC’s roster (Rokevious Watkins, Steven Singleton).

--- About Young: The 24-year-old Young, the oldest player on the Wolfpack’s roster, graduated in May. Young is the ACC’s active leader in tackles for loss (31.5) and sacks (12.5). He collected 1.5 of his team-leading 6.5 sacks in 2008 against USC.

How he’ll win the matchup: The 6-4, 250-pound Young gave the Gamecocks fits last year with his size and speed on the edge. Young will line up at either end position, but figures to spend a lot of the game lined up across from King. If he can get a step on King, he should be able to turn the corner and go after Garcia.

Key number: 9; espn.com recently rated Young the ACC’s ninth-best player.