Is there a Strong Safety Controversy Brewing for the South Carolina Gamecocks

September 8, 2012; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks safety Brison Williams (12) intercepts a pass intended for East Carolina Pirates wide receiver Reese Wiggins (15) in the first half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-US PRESSWIRE

T.J. Gurley has just one start under his belt this season, but already some fans are calling for him to get the nod over Brison Williams at strong safety Saturday night.

Gurley, a freshman, has six solo tackles (8 total), while Williams has 12 solo tackles (13 total) and an interception this year.

Still, while Williams may have the better stats, fans remember him most for the touchdown he gave up against Vanderbilt in week one.

I’ll be honest. I’m not sure what Williams was doing there. Trying to make an interception? Held up on the tackle because he didn’t want to get a personal foul call? Either way, he has rebounded nicely, and until the Missouri game, there really wasn’t any question who should start at SS for South Carolina.

Against the Tigers, though, he had just one tackle.

Gurley had two tackles in that game.

Despite what fans think about Williams, until Gurley can throw a few more games together with better stats than the guy ahead of him on the depth chart, there’s really no reason to consider starting him.

He’ll have a chance to outplay Williams tomorrow night. If the game goes according to plan, South Carolina will sit most of its starters midway through the third quarter, which means Gurley will be playing against Kentucky’s first team offense for almost the entire second half.