South Carolina Names Connor Mitch as Starting Quarterback

The SEC is one of the best if not the best overall conferences in college football. For any team in the conference to win they must have a strong leader at quarterback guiding their offense.

There have been a number of questions about SEC quarterbacks this summer leading up to next week’s start of the season. One of those was at South Carolina. However, that question has now been answered or has it.

This week, South Carolina named Connor Mitch a sophomore as their starting quarterback for Week 1 against the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Mitch beat three other players out for the starting job. He was the expected replacement for Dylan Thompson last year’s starter but was not just handed the starting job by head coach Steve Spurrier.

Mitch had to fight off Perry Orth, Michael Scarnecchia and Lorenzo Nunez for the starting job.

Mitch does not have that much experience. A strange twist is that starting wide receiver Pharoh Cooper has thrown more passes than any other player on the Gamecocks roster.

Mitch played in just two games during last season as Thompson’s backup. He completed just 2 of 6 passes for 19 yards. He redshirted the previous season.

He came to South Carolina as a prized prospect out of North Carolina.

He comes from very good genes as well. Playing with the pigskin is in his blood. Bob, his father was a quarterback and safety for Syracuse during the 1970s. Ryan, his brother, played quarterback for Maryland. Even Brittany his sister a former Duke basketball player is extremely athletic.

However, nothing is permanent especially when it comes to playing college football. That means Mitch will have to continue looking in his rear view mirror fighting off the competition from his teammates.

Spurrier has been known to ticker with his quarterbacks and that could be just what he is doing heading into the opener in just over a week.

It is common knowledge that Spurrier likes Nunez’ athleticism, as the very athletic true freshman has impressed and somehow Spurrier will find a way to get him on the field.

Mitch will start the season as the top quarterback, but proving he can hold onto that spot will be a weekly process that could have a number of ups and days for the sophomore signal caller.

The Gamecocks are not predicted to have a strong season. Their ranking entering the season is #37 nationally and #5 in the SEC east.