Jan. 11, 2005

Columbia, S.C. – Four senior members of the 2004 University of South Carolina football team will have the opportunity to showcase their skills at upcoming all-star games later this month. John Strickland, a center from Bainbridge, Ga., will play this Saturday in the Gridirons Classic in Orlando, Fla. Strickland was a two-year starter for the Gamecocks. Darrell Shropshire, a defensive tackle from Kershaw, S.C., will likewise play this Saturday in the East-West Shrine Game in Palo Alto, Calif. Shropshire will also participate in the Hula Bowl in Hawaii on Jan. 22. Shropshire played two seasons for Carolina after transferring from Coffeyville (Kan.) Junior College. This past season, he tallied 28 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss and two quarterback sacks. Defensive end George Gause from Conway, S.C., and linebacker Marcus Lawrence from Aiken, S.C., will both compete in the Senior Bowl Jan. 29 in Mobile, Ala. Gause was a three-year starter and had 40 tackles and a team-leading five quarterback sacks in 2004. Lawrence was a two-year starter who was in on 57 total tackles this past season. All of these games will be televised live by either ESPN or ESPN2. Check your local listings for air time.