South Carolina Game Week Presser Notes 11/12/2024

Nov 13, 2024 | Uncategorized

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Zion Young and Corey Flagg celebrate a tackle
Missouri players celebrate recovering a fumble in the first half of a game against Auburn on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, at Faurot Field in Columbia. (CAL TOBIAS/ROCK M NATION)

Coach Drink, Corey Flagg, Nate Noel, and Nic DeLoach spoke to the media this week ahead of their road tilt against South Carolina.

Head coach Eli Drinkwitz mentioned after the Oklahoma game that he wishes the world held his team’s mentality of going 1-0 every week, and that his focus after the game is going to be on South Carolina. He also said that the Gamecocks would likely be ranked in this week’s College Football Playoff rankings, and he’s probably right. Meaning that this is his team’s last likely opportunity to impress the college football world for a chance at the 12-team playoff.

Accompanying Drinkwitz for this week’s presser was Corey Flagg Jr., Nic DeLoach, and Nate Noel. Let’s look at the most important things they had to say.

Eli Drinkwitz | Head Coach

“Connor Tollison has been lost for the season to a leg injury, very tough news for us as a program and as a team. Connor was Mr. Consistent. As good a center as we’ve had here he started, I think 35 games. I think every game that Brady Cook’s been the quarterback minus Army. Really good football player, he will bounce back. No we will not be getting him back for next year.”On the status of Connor Tollison.

“Williams-Brice Stadium is one of the most difficult places to play in the SEC, it’s extremely loud and their fans are really noisy. Their offensive coordinator does an outstanding job of playing to the strengths of his offense. Their quarterback Lanorris Sellers is a redshirt freshman who’s playing his best ball and gets better every week. Their running back Raheem Sanders has been one of the best backs in this league for a long time. He’s a bigger physical back and a very difficult challenge for us. They have a really good tight end in Joshua Simon, I think is a really good player that makes difficult matchups. They are very multiple on their defensive front, they have two elite defensive ends. I think their internal players Tonka Hemingway and Alex Huntley make it very difficult. They exchange gaps, they play downhill and they’re really stout versus the run. Their linebacker Debo Williams is a really good player…I talked to an NFL Scout a couple of weeks ago who said that they have as many NFL Defensive prospects as any other team in the SEC.”On the opponent, South Carolina.

We have a lot of confidence in Drew [Pyne] and whoever gives us the best opportunity to win will play. We won’t know anything on Brady [Cook] until later in the week, but I would anticipate Drew’s gonna prepare for Drew to be the starter…I think he’s improved his pocket presence. It’s harder to replicate live rush as much as anything in college football, because we’re trying to be o protective of the quarterback in practice because you don’t want anybody around his arm or hand. And then the timing of throws happens just a bit quicker in the game, I thought as he settled into the game, he was able to make some throws with more time.”On his confidence in Drew Pyne and his status as a starter for Saturday.

It’s going to be a challenge to keep the pocket clean, there’s not really been anybody that’s been able to keep it clean and we’re obviously breaking in a new center too. More than keeping the pocket clean, it’s going to be about us being able to find a rhythm running the football better than we were in the first half last week.”On the importance of protection and running the football in the game.

I think it’s a growing trend in college football. It’s a little bit easier to get your offense going with a mobile quarterback. It doesn’t require as much time in your chemistry with the wideouts. I think as the transfer portal and player acquisition becomes more and more a part of college football, I think you’ll continue to see dual threat quarterbacks be the lean of coaches. South Carolina does a good job of utilizing RPOs when you go into eight-man spacing, they’re going to read the safeties. So it’ll be a challenge to defend what they bring. The biggest thing with [Lanorris Sellers] when you get to him it’s hard to tackle a guy who’s about 240 pounds, and arm tackles aren’t going to get it done. You need a hard shoulder tackle.”On South Carolina QB Lanorris Sellers and his capability as a dual threat.

Corey Flagg Jr. | Linebacker

“It all comes down to everybody doing their job, it’s going to be a big deal this week. It is every week, this is SEC football. I’m ready for the challenge…Sanders runs hard man. One cut runner that breaks a lot of tackles.”On the challenge of facing Lanorris Sellers and Rocket Sanders.

Zion [Young is a great motivator, great fire starter. We all have those days where we come in and we just don’t really have the juice for whatever reason it may be. Zion’s just consistent in coming in and getting that juice started back up. He’s good at reminding you of why you’re doing what you’re doing.” On the leadership of Zion Young.

Chris McClellan came in strictly on business. He came in heavy, dropped his weight quickly and he’s been putting in work daily and competing. All those guys have been competing. Sterling [Webb], Marquis [Gracial], and the rest of the d-line. Specifically McClellan he came in and just put in work. It shows up on Saturdays so it’s been love playing with those guys.”On Chris McClellan and the rest of the defensive line.

I think it’s just [Triston Newson and I] getting better each week, because it’s our first year playing together and building that chemistry up. Chuck [Hicks] had a really good game as well. The whole linebacker room did. That’s just tips off to our coach DJ Smith, he’s on us all the time. He was just after the game. We watched the tape, and he celebrated with us for like five minutes. We got to move on because we have a tough game this Saturday. Let’s think about college football and let’s move on to the next week. Couch DJ does a hell of a job preparing us each week and staying on us and making sure we stay consistent.”On the linebackers doing well on Saturday.

Nic DeLoach | Cornerback

“Just playing each game every week, I get better and better. I just build confidence each week and it helps me get more prepared for the next game.”On how the game has slowed down for him as he gets more playing time.

For me it’s just about not overthinking and just remembering to do your job. If you see the quarterback scrambling you can’t chase and leave your man open, you have to remember to do your job.”On the challenge of playing LaNorris Sellers.

My patience has grown the most [since I’ve gotten increased playing time], especially on screens. I used to try to guess and be too anxious at the line but I just have to be patient. That’s one thing I’ve improved on this season.”On what he has improved on this season.

Especially during or after a rep or anything in the game. They just give me pointers on what to expect, they are always hooking me up.”On what he has been able to learn from the more experienced defensive backs.

Nate Noel | Running Back

“I was feeling pretty good on Saturday. I think I’m getting closer and closer to 100%. I’ve been working with my trainers and my strength staff and I feel I’m getting very close to it.”On how his injury is feeling.

It’s been a little long, it’s been fun just you know being around the trainers and being able to watch off the field from a different perspective. It gives everybody a different view. It’s made me grateful, made me appreciate the small things I was able to do without thinking about it.”On his recovery process and what he has learned.

It feels great, it’s reassuring. I already knew from the spring and the fall, just putting in work with them, just seeing everybody go through our problems. Some people going down, others stepping up. I just didn’t that they were all capable, and everybody had their roles. It’s showing now.”On how he feels about how the RB room has stepped up in his absence.

With a quarterback down, we know that across the board we got to be behind our quarterback. We got to be behind everybody that’s injured. We have to play for each other and go back to the hard workouts we’ve been through together. We got to reflect on those tough times and dig deep and play for each other.”On the difference of mindset when the starting quarterback is injured.

It was just reassuring because we have seen him do it plenty times before, so we knew he can do it. It’s just all about getting the confidence and just knowing that we all had his back, so feel like that was a big part of it.”On the feeling of Drew Pyne bouncing back after a tough game at Alabama.

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