Sept. 9, 2015

The University of South Carolina football squad (1-0, 0-0 SEC) practiced for a little over two hours on Wednesday afternoon as they continue to prepare for Saturday night’s SEC Eastern Division showdown with the Kentucky Wildcats (1-0, 0-0 SEC).

Offensive line coach Shawn Elliott knows his unit up front will need to continue to improve as the season progresses. “They played about average (against North Carolina),” said Elliott. “We won 17-13 so there was nothing spectacular out of them, but they were pretty solid other than that. They can get a lot better.

“Organization is the number one thing offensively we’ve got to do,” continued Elliott. “We’ve got to put our players in a position to run and execute plays very well. Just more game-type experience is going to help us.”

Elliott confirmed that true freshman Zack Bailey would be the number two center if starter Alan Knott would come out of the game. Bailey moved up the depth chart following the injury to Cody Waldrop. Clayton Stadnik, who has switched to number 54, is the third-team center who would be used in an emergency situation.

Starting right tackle Mason Zandi, who normally wears number 74, will don number 51 this week in honor of Waldrop, who suffered a broken ankle during practice earlier in the week.

The health of the team took a step forward, as all of the regulars who are expected to contribute in Saturday’s home opener practiced on Wednesday.

Saturday’s contest, which is scheduled to kick at 7:39 p.m. ET, will be televised on the SEC Network with Brent Musburger and Jesse Palmer in the booth and Maria Taylor on the sidelines.

The Gamecocks will return to the practice fields on Thursday afternoon.