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Zack Bailey brings size, strength, motor to Gamecocks
Posted on 6/24/15 at 2:24 pm
Posted on 6/24/15 at 2:24 pm
https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-football/article25205632.html
quote:
Zack Bailey is big and strong. Some might call the offensive lineman from Summerville nasty – in a football sense, of course.
Now a freshman at South Carolina, Bailey is not one to brag on himself too much.
“I’m not going to say I’m the greatest,” he said. “There are people who are easily better than me. I’m good, but there are things I need to work on physically and mentally. I’m decent. I work my hardest.”
Bailey was ranked the No. 4 player instate for the 2015 class and one of 10 four-star newcomers for the Gamecocks. He was a state champion as a senior in the shot put.
He expects summer workouts and preseason camp to present physical and mental challenges.
“I’d like to try and fight for a starting job,” Bailey said. “If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. I’ll understand. I’ll be a freshman. I’ll just be a workhorse.”
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Posted on 6/24/15 at 11:29 pm to CockInYourEar
Shot puters have good footwork.
I was the only white boy to medal in the Star Fort Relays back in the early seventies in Track and Field .... 3rd in the Shot Put, 1st in 110 high hurdles and 2nd in 440 relay.
I was a linebacker.
There was this offensive lineman who took 1st in both the shot put and discus .... a ginger. He was not stronger than me but he had the footwork.
He was from Hannahan. He ended up signing with Georgia or Tennessee if I remember correctly. Wish I could remember his name but my memory is slipping.
Lon Armstrong, who was a former kicker at Clemson and a helluva coach told me, when you see a competitive OLineman with footwork like that ... that's a good sign.
I was the only white boy to medal in the Star Fort Relays back in the early seventies in Track and Field .... 3rd in the Shot Put, 1st in 110 high hurdles and 2nd in 440 relay.
I was a linebacker.
There was this offensive lineman who took 1st in both the shot put and discus .... a ginger. He was not stronger than me but he had the footwork.
He was from Hannahan. He ended up signing with Georgia or Tennessee if I remember correctly. Wish I could remember his name but my memory is slipping.
Lon Armstrong, who was a former kicker at Clemson and a helluva coach told me, when you see a competitive OLineman with footwork like that ... that's a good sign.
Posted on 6/25/15 at 12:58 am to CockInYourEar
I read in the other thread that Matulis is projected to play OT, possibly at LT. He will battle it out with Mason Zandi for the starting role and provide some experience and depth. Looks like we'll have a 2-deep of Knott and Stanley at Center, Park and B. Stadnik at LG, Sport and Waldrop at RG, and Shell and....who?....at RT?
We also have Malik Young who can play a guard spot, and Waldrop also has experience at Center, and Stanley could also play a OG position as well. Park could play at Tackle and provide depth behind Shell.
So right now it looks like our 2nd team will have some versatility for several positions. I expect out of our incoming freshman, Bailey and Pellage will get first crack at playing this season if they are up to it, while Camper and Derouen are red-shirted.
All 4 incoming OL freshmen have college-ready bodies on paper, it seems like. No 260-lb skinny kids that'll need 2 years to build up into 290+ young men. I just hope they some good muscle/strength development and aren't just fat-bodies...
We also have Malik Young who can play a guard spot, and Waldrop also has experience at Center, and Stanley could also play a OG position as well. Park could play at Tackle and provide depth behind Shell.
So right now it looks like our 2nd team will have some versatility for several positions. I expect out of our incoming freshman, Bailey and Pellage will get first crack at playing this season if they are up to it, while Camper and Derouen are red-shirted.
All 4 incoming OL freshmen have college-ready bodies on paper, it seems like. No 260-lb skinny kids that'll need 2 years to build up into 290+ young men. I just hope they some good muscle/strength development and aren't just fat-bodies...
Posted on 6/25/15 at 1:15 am to ConwayGamecock
It is so difficult for a true freshman to contribute on the OLine ... maybe the toughest for a true freshman to do-so.
Very very few actually do, but I agree, there may be one, possibly two that might.
I never get my hopes-up with true freshmen offensive linemen.
Very very few actually do, but I agree, there may be one, possibly two that might.
I never get my hopes-up with true freshmen offensive linemen.
Posted on 6/25/15 at 6:56 am to scrooster
quote:
It is so difficult for a true freshman to contribute on the OLine ... maybe the toughest for a true freshman to do-so.
Very very few actually do, but I agree, there may be one, possibly two that might.
I never get my hopes-up with true freshmen offensive linemen.
I concur. 98% of D1 and especially SEC true FR OL are not ready physically to start year 1. The only ones that are ready are the genetic freaks and/or the guys that reclassed 1 or 2 years growing up and they're coming into college as a 19-20 year old.
Those OL who start their true Fr year often get injured, usually something like a torn labrum. Matulis is a good example. He was a Fr All American/Fr All SEC b/c we had to burn his RS and start him when Nunn got hurt. He played 5 games his FR year and then got hurt in the beginning of the next season.
Most OL out of HS need at least 1 and most likely 2 years to get their bodies in shape to deal with that grind.
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