Spring practice begins today at the University of South Carolina, a consensus pre-season Top Ten team nationally, with a walk-on having an excellent chance to not only see the field at fullback position, but to play whenever the offense has a fullback on the field.
Most walk-on players on a major college football team will never see the field. They willingly give their bodies up as living practice dummies each day during practice, a living testament to the truth that was played out well in the movie "Rudy" for those who don't live in that world.
All four fullbacks on the roster for spring practice are walk-ons: #31 Jordan Diaz, a 6-1, 243 lb redshirt junior from Hamilton, N.J; #45 Ty Sutherland, a 5-10, 240 lb redshirt sophomore from Pendleton, S.C; #41 Connor McLaurin, a 6-0, 237 lb redshirt junior from Raleigh, N.C.; and #43 Garrison Gist, a 5-9, 250 lb redshirt sophomore from Rock Hill, S.C.
There were no fullbacks signed in the 2013 class who will be coming in this fall, and Sutherland is the only returning player at fullback. Last season's starter Toquavius Gilchrist has graduated, as have seniors Jacob Baker and Kyle Madden, so it will be up to one of the four walk-ons.
Garrison Gist didn't make it past the first cut when he tried out for the team last season; but Garrison Gist did not give up. One of his high school track coaches, Kenny Malcolm, is active in competitive weight-lifting, and encouraged Gist to give weight-lifting a try as his senior year came to a close. Gist did more than give it a try—he broke four state and national records his freshman fall at USC. He has gone on to set 11 national records and 12 state records with eye-popping numbers.
He broke the national records in bench press, squat, deadlift and overall total. Each competitor has three attempts in each category. Garrison broke the squat record by squatting 551 lbs. in his second attempt and 600 lbs. in his third attempt, despite missing the first attempt by not waiting for the squat command. In the bench category, he made all his attempts with 350 lbs. the first attempt, 385 lbs. the second and 400 lbs. the third attempt. On deadlift, he lifted 465 lbs. the first attempt, 500 lbs. the second attempt and 551lbs. the third attempt.
All his hard work in the weight room and other off-season conditioning has paid off, as he made the USC team and puts on pads today. He will get to practice playing the game he loves for the first time in three seasons. He played at 235 his senior year at Northwestern HS, and has added 15 pounds of sheer muscle in the last two years.
Gist will be a junior at USC this fall, majoring in graphic arts. He has three years of eligibility left to play football.
Gist will also be returning to a position he hasn't played in a while. He played fullback in middle school in 7th and 8th grade, but when he arrived at Northwestern, they had switched to the "Air Raid" offense and there was no fullback position, so he played nose guard and linebacker on defense for two years before the coaching staff switched him back to offense to play right tackle for his senior year.
His mother Cheryl Mozie is thrilled to see her son back playing the game he loves. She said that "football - it's like everything else he does - he gives it 100%. If it's possible to give more than 100%, he gives it that. It has always been something he is really passionate about."
Gill's father Anquan Gill starred as a running back at Northwestern, and went on to play strong safety at The Citadel. While his father introduced him to football, his Mom laughed and said, "He didn't get his football playing ability from me, but some of his athletic ability, I think I can take a little bit of credit for that." She ran track in school and continues to run regularly today.
Speaking about the challenges of walking on at a major college program, Mrs. Gist said, "You have to go out and give it 100%. It's like a job - any job. You have to get out there and prove yourself. You have to work and give it 100%." As far as Garrison contending for a starting spot, if he doesn't make it, she said it won't be for lack of effort.
On the subject of leadership, Mozie said, "He gets out there and he knows what he wants to do, and he leads by example. If there is not someone doing what needs to be done, he'll take the initiative to get it done. He's more of a people person because he's a leader, not necessarily a people person because he's following what others are doing."
Outside of football, she said the characteristic that stands out most about her son is his caring. "He is very outgoing, has never met a stranger. If he can help someone, he will. He has a huge heart. He goes out of his way to make sure his friends have what they need, that I have what I need, that his brother has what he needs. He is a very caring person."
Garrison grew up a Gamecock fan, and when he was accepted at USC, his Mom had no doubt what his major would be. "I knew right off the bat it was going to be graphic design. Ever since middle school he's loved two things - graphic design and football," she said, laughing.
While he may not have been highly recruited, now that he is a member of the team, his mother is convinced that his unyielding work ethic and one other trait that has stood out to her ever since he started playing football will help him make the most of his time as a Gamecock - his constant growth as a player. His passion for the game and his diligence at whatever is required of him are already at a 100%. Given this fresh opportunity, she believes his greatest strength won't necessarily be the strength he has honed in the weight room, but his "constant, consistent growth as a player."
Keep your eyes on number 43 at Spring Practice the next month - he won't be taking any downs off. He will be running downhill and hitting somebody every chance he gets.
