Kenny Miles has not told South Carolina’s coaches definitively if he will return for his senior season, but he looks ready for the fall, running backs coach Everette Sands said Thursday.

“Kenny is doing a great job,” the Gamecocks’ first-year running backs coach said after the team finished its second spring practice. “His (40-yard dash) time this year was almost two tenths better than it was last year. He looks real good out there. He’s definitely a leader out there right now.”

Still, Miles has yet to commit to a return, Sands said.

“But he’s doing everything we ask him to do,” Sands said. “He’s bought in. He is truly one of our leaders.”

Miles projects as the team’s No. 2 tailback behind Marcus Lattimore in the fall, Sands said.

“We have to put the pads on and see, but, right now, just mentally, I would say so, but you still have to earn it on the field,” Sands said.

Miles did not speak to reporters Thursday.

“I don’t know why he’d be out here if he wasn’t coming back,” quarterback Connor Shaw said.

PUBLIC INVITED

All of South Carolina’s spring practices are open to the public, and coach Steve Spurrier thinks fans might especially enjoy today’s 4:15 practice.

“We are going to put the pads on and run some drills, and we are going to try to do it over here in front of the fans so if they want to come out and watch some of the big guys bump heads, some of the new guys go at it, they are welcome to come out,” he said.

Spurrier also invited youth from the area to attend an event at 11 a.m. on April 14 in Williams-Brice Stadium. The event, which starts two hours before the annual spring game, will feature speeches from Lattimore along with former Gamecocks Melvin Ingram and Alshon Jeffery.

“We can get a wonderful turnout of the young people in this area before the spring game,” Spurrier said.

Admission to event and the spring game is free.

EXTRA POINTS

... Sophomore defensive end Jadeveon Clowney returned to practice after missing Tuesday’s workout for academic reasons.

… Shaw ran a 4.5 40-yard dash this winter, he said, a school record for the quarterback position.

… Former Gamecocks Chris Culliver, Travian Robertson, Cliff Matthews, Terrence Campbell, Darian Stewart and Patrick DiMarco watched Thursday’s practice from the sideline.

… Dylan Thompson is No. 2 on the quarterback depth chart, Spurrier said.