The Daily Gamecock

Issue date: 11/14/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Juan Blas / The Daily Gamecock Jarriel King

Sophomore offensive tackle Jarriel King stands at 6-foot-7-inch and weighs 285 pounds - surely an intimidating figure to any personal company whether opponent or fan. Yet what might come as a shock to many is the fact that King has things on his mind other than eating his opposition and anybody else in his way alive. He really just wants to have fun.

"You think I'm sitting there like a big, mean Sasquatch man or something. But I'm actually out there having fun ..." King said. "We're making jokes on the field during the game, and that's cool with me. I can see a lot of good things coming from that."

King is part of an offensive line for the South Carolina Gamecocks that has certainly seen its share of up and downs this season. However, improvements are certainly being made.

Last week in Carolina's 34-21 victory over Arkansas, the offensive line helped to finally propel the struggling running game, which for the first time in six games averaged more than three yards per rush. Freshman running back Eric Baker rushed for 59 yards on nine carries, the second highest yards per rush of any Gamecock running back this season. The O-line also surrendered just two sacks, also an improved statistic for the Gamecocks. King says that the progress certainly didn't go unnoticed and the statistics do not lie.

"The Arkansas game was one of my best games as a Gamecock ... I made a lot of improvements in some different ways," King said. "I'm just trying to keep doing things the coaches are telling me to do - coach Spurrier, [offensive line] coach Hunt."

The Gamecocks travel to Gainesville, Fla. to take on the third-ranked Florida Gators on national television this Saturday. In order to give the 2005 and 2006 national champions a run, USC will need nearly all aspects of the game to go their way. The offensive line, in particular, needs to provide space for the running game and time for the quarterbacks so that the offense can put points on the scoreboard.

However, Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes is trying to send the Gamecocks home with a loss. The 6-foot-3-inch, 245-pound junior currently leads the Gator defense with 66 tackles and eight tackles for loss. Spikes is part of a defensive unit that currently leads the SEC in scoring defense with 11.6 points per game, and he will certainly pose a problem to the offensive line on both run plays and pass plays (he has also added two sacks and two interceptions this year). Last year, he started all 13 games and led the team with 131 tackles, earning himself 1st Team All-SEC Honors. It's imperative for a USC blocker to have a body on Brandon Spikes at all times this Saturday. Otherwise, he will wreak havoc on the Gamecocks' seemingly mediocre offense.

Luckily for the Gamecocks, additional motivation is provided against Florida. Other than beating the third best team in the country and securing a substantial BCS Bowl game, King says there's one more reason he really wants to come back to Columbia with a victory.

"That little clapping they do over there. For some reason I just don't like it. I see it on video games and, I don't know, it just bothers me," King said referring to the Gator fans' signature gator chomp. "Maybe I'll have a really good game because of that."

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