But it’s not a sign of progress for a continuing Gamecocks regime – Shawn Elliott is unlikely to get the head coaching job on a permanent basis – nor is it an encouraging indication that South Carolina could win the games it will need to win at the back end of its schedule to get a bowl berth.
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His running game was superb. Murray rushed for 156 yards on 20 carries. Texas A&M Aggies rank at 41 for 227.0 road rushing yards where as South Carolina Gamecocks rank at 100 for allowing 246.0 rushing yards at home.
Bucky Brooks, a draft analyst with NFL.com, mentioned Murray as one of five players on the rise after week nine.
Regardless of who is taking snaps for South Carolina, the Gamecocks have had more than their fair share of struggles in the red zone. Murray, who led Allen High to three consecutive Texas state championships and was undefeated as a starter at the Dallas-area school, completed 20 of 28 passes.
Murray has been named the starter for Saturday’s game against South Carolina, Billy Liucci of TexAgs.com reports. “We basically had the open week and the A&M week to really prepare and put your flair, your feel, on the offense”. But aside from the season finale at LSU, there’s not a truly foreboding game left on the schedule. That included the freshman’s 1-yard touchdown run to push Texas A&M ahead 28-21.
“It was reverse pass with an option to run”, Elliott said. He earned second-team All-SEC honors a year ago after averaging 13.7 points a game and leading the Aggies with 6.6 rebounds a game. “I haven’t seen this” or ‘I haven’t seen that, ‘” Elliott said. “But you win and lose as a team”, said Sumlin, who cited the offense’s ability to play at a more up-tempo pace as a game-changer.
On the flip side, Texas A&M’s defense had an okay day. It’s already bad, but you’ve got think that without Skai this defense would be in a much worse spot. “We have to keep moving forward and making plans to better our football team”, Elliott said.
“The biggest thing that I thought he did was not force the game, not force things but let the game come to him”, Sumlin said.
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Although defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth is dealing with an illness and linebacker Skai Moore suffered a cut on his forehead, USC came out of the Texas A&M game relatively healthy. “This week, you’re going to be evaluated not only in practice and percentage in drills and everything else but you’re also going to be evaluated in your leadership skills, your communication with your teammates, communication with the coaching staff, general overall play and demeanor'”.
