#16- Connor Shaw/ Quarterback/ South Carolina/ Sophomore
Coming into the 2011 season, The SEC is a three team race as of now. What's shocking is that defending national champion Auburn, is not one of them. Alabama, LSU, and South Carolina are the pre-season favorites to challenge for the SEC Championship, but don't count Florida out, with the talent they have, it would be smart to never count the Gators out. South Carolina has never had the team prowess that it carries right now for the upcoming season. The Gamecocks have two NFL caliber Quarterbacks Stephen Garcia and Connor Shaw, a 1st round talent at Wide Receiver, Alshon Jeffery, arguably the best Running back tandem in the country( Oregon likely disagrees) with Marcus Lattimore, and his dynamic back up Kenny Miles , and the #1 overall prospect in the nation, local defensive end Jadaveon Clowney.
Head Coach Steve Spurrier has brought in the #1 overall prospect two years in a row now with the additions of Lattimore and Clowney. If the defense keeps the Cocks in close games, they could be dark horse national title contenders. I am very high on this team, and expect big things from Spurrier and his best team ever at South Carolina. Fortunately for Coach Spurrier, he has two great quarterbacks with Garcia and Shaw.
Off field issues and academic issues ,along with inconsistency has plagued the career of senior starter Stephen Garcia. As of now, Garcia is indefinitely suspended leaving the starting job open for Connor Shaw. The young sophomore from Flowery Branch, Georgia appeared in 9 games in 2010, mostly backing up Garcia, and threw for 223 yards hitting on 22-33 pass attempts. (69.7 completion pct.). Shaw added pizazz with his feet as well, bringing an element to the Gamecock offense that Garcia doesn't have. Finishing 4th on the team in rushing, Shaw had 32 carries for 165 yards on the ground.
His maturation continued during the spring game, and now Spurrier has a choice to make.
Who to start at quarterback in 2011? This decision could make or break the season for South Carolina and I expect them to be playing in a BCS Game for the 1st time in school history.
Article: Ronald Hill
Photo: Courtesy of independentmail.com
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