COLUMBIA — Brandon McIlwain is at South Carolina on a football scholarship. But this semester, baseball will be his priority.
The sophomore plans to be more of a fixture this spring at Founders Park, a contrast to a year ago when the quarterback and outfielder appeared in just eight games on the diamond as he juggled both baseball and spring football responsibilities in his first semester on campus.
“I feel like these coaches have done a great job of figuring out a schedule for me, and figuring out that I can do both,” McIlwain said Friday on the Gamecocks’ opening day of baseball practice, and in his first comments to reporters since arriving at USC.
“Like what’s going on now, this semester, they’re giving me a great opportunity to play baseball, and do the things I need to do to compete in baseball. So I feel like I’ve had a great opportunity to compete in both, and all the opportunities that coaches have promised me have been there. So I’m happy with both. I’m happy with what I’m doing in both sports.”
A projected high-round baseball draft pick as well as a standout quarterback in high school, McIlwain committed to the Gamecocks with the intention of playing both sports. But his baseball activities last spring were curtailed as he tried to get up to speed on football, emerging as a top contender for USC’s then-vacant starting quarterback position. McIlwain ended up getting just one hit in 10 at-bats.
“Definitely I was hoping to do more, because I’m a competitor. Because of the time I came in, I came in in the middle of January, I hadn’t been doing much here around the (baseball) coaches, and I was also brand new,” he said.
“I was a second-semester (high school) senior coming into college, and it was a difficult transition. There was obviously more that I wanted to do. But I’m happy with how everything went, I’m happy with what I’ve learned through the whole process, and I’m excited for this year.”
Head baseball coach Chad Holbrook said McIlwain excelled in individual workouts, and “he’s hitting the ball out of the park.” The sophomore could contend for time in centerfield, with Alex Destino and T.J. Hopkins of Summerville the leaders to start in left and right, respectively.
“He seems like a kid again,” Holbrook said. “He’s smiling, he’s having fun. I might have thrown too much on him last year at this time with all that was going on and all the expectations that were upon him in both sports. Now he’s focusing on baseball. He’s going to get his football responsibilities in on his time, and he’s going to play baseball. I think that’s relieved him a little bit. There’s not as much stress right now.”
McIlwain said he will study the football playbook and watch film in his free time. Asked if he’d be at Founders Park on Feb. 25, when USC opens spring football practice on the same day the Gamecocks host Wright State in baseball, he answered, “Yes sir. Baseball is my priority right now.”
He added: “Baseball is my priority for this semester, and wherever the football things can figure themselves out, I’m going to be there. I’m definitely going to continue to meet and do things on the football side, but baseball is my priority.”
McIlwain started three games at quarterback this past football season before head coach Will Muschamp switched to true freshman Jake Bentley, who led USC to four victories in its final six regular-season games. But McIlwain said he didn’t consider moving to baseball full-time.
