South Carolina coach Will Muschamp seems to be one step closer to naming a starting quarterback for the 2016 season, though a timetable for that decision could still be ways away.
According to a report from The State, Muschamp reiterated Tuesday that senior Perry Orth and freshman Brandon McIlwain had “distanced” themselves from the rest of the quarterbacks.
With Orth on the shelf for two months due to a broken collarbone, McIlwain was leading the first-team offense the entire day in what was spring practice No. 9 of 15 for the Gamecocks.
“He’s made a lot of strides. Obviously he has a lot of ability,” Muschamp said of McIlwain. “I’ve been very pleased with his progress.”
Orth has the most experience of any quarterback on the roster, finishing the 2015 season with a 1-7 record as a starter, recording 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions. McIlwain was the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback in the country from the class of 2016, per 247Sports.
Muschamp also noted that redshirt Connor Mitch still has a chance to regain some ground, and that sophomore Lorenzo Nunez will get another shot once he fully recovers from a sprained knee.
“We don’t have a clear-cut No. 1 quarterback,” said Muschamp. “We have multiple guys we’re trying to rep and part of the evaluation for us is off rhythm plays and their legs.
“In a perfect world, you’d love for somebody to step forward, but we have made some progress at the position.”
Tyler Waddell is a member of the Saturday Down South news team. He brings over five years of professional journalism experience and is closing in on a Bachelor's in sports management. Follow him on Twitter (@Tyler_Waddell).
