South Carolina Football: 5 Players to Watch in Spring Game

What: South Carolina spring game

When: Noon ET, April 12.

Where: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, S.C.

South Carolina's spring game is Saturday, and although a lot of the established starters will take most of the day off, it's a great time for younger players to make an impression on the coaching staff.

Invariably, there will be a few "spring game heroes" who are never heard from again, but it's also not uncommon for a previously unknown talent to use the game as his personal coming-out party.

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is guaranteed to infuse some fun with a trick play or two.

Last season, that included a long pass to Jadeveon Clowney, who stepped illegally off the sideline to catch it, stumbled and fell, and got up illegally to score a "touchdown."

Here are a few individuals worth keeping an eye on in the spring game.

Backup Quarterbacks

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Perry Orth is competing for the backup job at quarterback.

This may not be the most important battle in the spring game, but without question the competition at backup quarterback should be the most interesting.

Incumbent starter Dylan Thompson will probably only work a series or two before taking a seat to let the backups take the spotlight.

Perry Orth, Brendan Nosovitch and Connor Mitch have been competing all spring for the backup spot with Orth and Mitch holding an edge over Nosovitch.

While that competition will carry over into the fall, one of the three could gain a big leg up on  the competition with a strong performance.

Cornerback Rico McWilliams

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Rico McWilliams (No. 1) has spent the spring trying to prove he's worthy of being a starter at cornerback.

Cornerback is South Carolina's weakest position, and Rico McWilliams is the only returning player with any experience.

He has gotten tons of work in the spring, with the coaching staff working him hard to see if he can handle the rigors of playing corner in the SEC.

No matter what happens in the spring game,  McWilliams will enter the fall at least penciled in as a starter.

Reinforcements arrive in the fall with four blue-chip cornerback signees, but McWilliams can put himself in position to claim a starting spot if he can finish out with a strong performance in the spring game.

Defensive Tackle Abu Lamin

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JUCO transfer Abu Lamin could be a factor at defensive tackle.

South Carolina lost three of four starters on the defensive line, and JUCO transfer Abu Lamin was signed with immediate help in mind at defensive tackle.

By all accounts, Lamin has had a solid spring, but he could give himself a big leg up on earning a starting spot with a strong spring-game performance.

As at cornerback, Lamin will have to fend off the challenge from incoming recruits in the fall.

The other players on the defensive line are worth watching as well with the Gamecocks looking to find a pass-rushing replacement for defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.

Tailback David Williams

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If healthy, tailback David Williams could put on a show in the spring game.

Redshirt freshman David Williams has been hampered most of the spring by a hamstring injury,  but coaches are optimistic he will be healthy in time for the spring game.

Starting tailback Mike Davis isn't likely to get much work, and backups Shon Carson and Brandon Wilds are more or less proven commodities.

There has been a lot of buzz surrounding Williams, a highly regarded recruit.

The spring game would be a nice time for him to show what all the buzz is about.

Wide Receiver Shamier Jeffery

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Shamier Jeffery is trying to become a bigger factor at wide receiver for the Gamecocks.

Shamier Jeffery, the younger brother of former South Carolina All-American Alshon Jeffery, is battling to become a bigger factor at wide receiver for the Gamecocks.

Jeffery played in seven games last season with five receptions but has had a solid spring that he hopes to cap with a big performance in the spring game.

While he may not be able to crack the starting rotation at wide receiver, there should be plenty of receptions to go around if he can play his way into the top five.

A junior, it may be now or never for Jeffery.