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Tori Gurley shares advice he gave QB Ryan Hilinski after the freshman became starter
By Keith Farner
Published:
Ryan Hilinski was reportedly thrust into the starting role today as quarterback for South Carolina following news that QB Jake Bentley has suffered a broken foot.
The news shook the Gamecock program and fan base, and former players like WR Tori Gurley, a TV and radio analyst, have weighed in. In an interview with ESPN Upstate, Gurley said he talked with Hilinski, someone he first met at an Adidas camp in California with other high-profile quarterbacks like Patrick Holmes and Tua Tagovailoa.
“He’s just going to have to go out and be himself,” Gurley said. “I told him don’t try to do too much, just be yourself and let it all hang out. Obviously he’s dedicating his career to his brother that passed recently, so I told him, ‘Go out and do it for your brother.'”
Gurley explained what he told Hilinski about the nature of how the freshman became the starter.
“His job is not to go out and try to be Superman,” Gurley said. “That’s the most obvious thing. I put myself in his shoes being 18 or 19 and being thrust into action. The first thing you think of is I need to go out and make a huge impression. Just go out and play ball. Take care of the football, make the open throws, protect yourself and live to play another down.”
Will Muschamp is set to have his regularly scheduled press conference on Tuesday, but several reports point to Hilinski getting the start on Saturday against Charleston Southern.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
