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With their leading rusher out and leading receiver struggling to get open, South Carolina needed a couple of new offensive stars last Saturday.
In stepped a senior running back who has always played in someone else's shadow and a sophomore who was once supposed to be the Gamecocks feature receiver, but is now learning a new role.
The emergence of Brian Maddox and Tori Gurley give South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier a couple of more weapons on a team that already has the Southeastern Conference's most accurate quarterback in Stephen Garcia, most prolific receiver in Alshon Jeffery and leading scorer in running back Marcus Lattimore.
It also has given the Gamecocks next opponent, Tennessee, some more headaches as the Volunteers prepare for Saturday's game.
''There's not much of a fall off. They've got great guys. They've got great backs no matter who they bring in, they're going to get the job done,'' Vols defensive end Gerald Williams said. ''We can't dwell on who they've got in for the starting lineup, we've got to go out and prepare as if it's going to be anyone.''
In a career that has been all about making adjustments, Gurley stepped up when South Carolina needed another pass-catching threat and had 14 receptions against Vanderbilt, tying a school record and vaulting him up to the fifth-leading receiver in the SEC.
Gurley was a South Carolina high school star expected to make an impact at North Carolina. But he didn't qualify academically and found himself sitting home, working to save money for prep school while working at Home Depot and Lowe's and watching his friends play of Saturday.
''It was a very humbling experience,'' Gurley said. ''I went from being an all-state caliber guy to working 9-5 and taking care of my grandma.''
After a year of prep school in New Hampshire and a redshirt season at South Carolina, Gurley was set to be the Gamecocks next big receiving star, like Kenny McKinley or Sidney Rice. But Jeffery suddenly emerged, and Gurley found himself on the bench.
But receivers coach Steve Spurrier Jr. wasn't ready to give up, encouraging Gurley to learn the slot position. An offseason of work at the new position finally paid off against the Commodores, as Gurley was repeatedly open over the middle, making the short gains South Carolina needed to keep drives alive and bringing the sophomore to a realization.
''Every day I would wake up and work out for this particular moment I had. During the game on Saturday, it just hit me. Hey, I'm playing the way I know I can play,'' Gurley said.
And when Gurley wasn't being called on to catch the short passes, Maddox was being asked to keep control of the game on the ground. He gained 146 yards on 24 carries Saturday, or almost a fifth of his career rushing total for the Gamecocks.
Maddox also was a South Carolina high school star. Each year, he appeared to be ready to take over the starting job for the Gamecocks, but never got the nod. Against Vanderbilt, Kenny Miles got the start, with Maddox only getting in after the sophomore struggled.
''I do take it a little personally - just from the Kentucky game, when Marcus went out, it seemed like we couldn't do anything. Just like I said last week, when I get in the game, I'm going to take advantage of every opportunity I get,'' Maddox said.
Maddox hopes Lattimore's return from the ankle injury that kept him out of the game against the Commodores doesn't mean he ends up back on the bench. He's carried the ball just 16 times in South Carolina's other six games.
''I think we should both get the ball,'' Maddox said. ''We can both be really, really effective. I think I did earn some with my play on Saturday.''
Spurrier said he doesn't play favorites and the only way for a player to end up on the field for him is to prove he is the best at the position.
''We always talk a little bit about opportunity to play if you can earn the right to play or earn the right to start, we give everyone that chance,'' Spurrier said.
The new stars and the offensive balance mean South Carolina's offense is just getting more dangerous as the season goes on, Tennessee coach Derek Dooley said.
''It doesn't matter what offense you run,'' Dooley said. ''If you've got a great quarterback, a great runner and a great receiver, you're going to move the ball and score points. And that's what they're doing.''
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AP Sports Writer Beth Rucker contributed to this report from Knoxville, Tenn.
