South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier gave third-team quarterback Brendan Nosovitch the day off Thursday while the redshirt-sophomore ponders his next move.

SECwriter.com first reported Wednesday night that the Allentown, Pa., native was seeking a transfer after sliding behind senior Dylan Thompson and redshirt-freshman Connor Mitch on the depth chart.

Spurrier addressed the situation after practice on Thursday and didn’t seem too fond of Nosovitch’s decision. He thinks this year’s Gamecocks could utilize his talents elsewhere, perhaps tight end, but leaves the option to leave up to him.

“He’s obviously got people telling him he’s a quarterback … and he’s struggling a little bit throwing the ball,” Spurrier said. “But he’s a heck of an athlete and can really play a lot of positions. He’s not the first one to do that and I’ve got the same feelings for all of them.

“We’d like to keep him certainly, but every young man has a right to make his own decision. We’ll release him anywhere.”

Spurrier said if Nosovitch stays he could perhaps play in Wildcat packages this season. He appeared in two games last fall and scored a touchdown on a seven-yard run in mop-up duty time at Arkansas.

“He’s a combination runner, thrower a lot like Connor Shaw was,” Spurrier said.

When asked to go into further detail about Nosovitch’s recent struggles from the pocket, Spurrier declined.

“He’s struggling … that’s all I need to say,” he said.

South Carolina announced Thursday that Friday’s practice and Saturday’s 4 p.m. scrimmage will be open to the public. Closed practices begin Monday.