Join us here at GoGamecocks.com for live practice updates Friday night, starting around 7 p.m.

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South Carolina’s football players have 23 days before they have to worry about going to class, and that means a lot of football between now and then.

The Gamecocks have 23 practices scheduled for that time, beginning Friday at 7:30 p.m. at The Proving Grounds practice facility. The season-opener is Aug. 30 against Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn., but there’s a lot to learn between now and then. Here are the top five story lines to watch during camp, although it’s really one big story line and four subplots:

MARCUS, MARCUS, MARCUS

Junior running back Marcus Lattimore will be back on the field for the first time since tearing his ACL on Oct.15.

The reports from coaches and teammates are all good, but Gamecock fans won’t feel 100 percent at ease until they see the 2010 national freshman of the year with their own eyes. (Which they can do at this week’s practices, which are open to the public.)

Lattimore has been cleared for full contact work, coach Steve Spurrier said, but it’s doubtful the Gamecocks will put him in harm’s way much this month.

There’s no reason Lattimore’s knee shouldn’t be 100 percent structurally sound. That will give him almost a month to make the mental recovery that most knee rehab patients say is the final phase.

It’ll also give him a month to answer hundreds of questions about how his knee feels, so get ready for plenty of updates.

STEVE SPURRIER’S MOOD

The Gamecocks’ eighth-year coach is entering a big year. He will join the exclusive 200-win club with three more victories, and he could become South Carolina’s all-time winingest coach before the season is complete.

Longtime Spurrier observers around the league noticed a pep in the veteran coach’s step at last month’s SEC Media Days, where Spurrier acknowledged his team had a chance for a special season. However, Spurrier has been quick to follow all those optimistic comments by saying things could go in the other direction, too. Then Tuesday, Spurrier told SportsTalk Radio that he planned to raise his voice some at Friday’s first practice because he thinks some of his players might be resting on their preseason hype.

Expect to hear a lot of poor-mouthing from Spurrier in the next three weeks.

LORENZO WARD TAKES THE REINS

The first-year defensive coordinator is not brand new to this anymore. He was in charge during the 30-13 win against Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl and led the defense in spring practice, but this is the season he will really make his mark.

Ward has said his defense will be fundamentally the same as former coordinator Ellis Johnson’s but will employ more pressure on the quarterback.

“Coach Ward is a younger coach. He wants us to have fun,” safety D.J. Swearinger said.

Ward’s plan to blitz more will mean more pressure on a new-look secondary, and if the defensive backs don’t respond to that in the preseason, he might have to change his plan.

THE RIGHT TACKLE WATCH

First, there is the matter of Mike Matulis’ health. The sophomore was listed as the starter at the position coming out of spring practice despite missing all of the spring with a shoulder injury. He will be ready for full speed action starting today, offensive line coach Shawn Elliott said, but he will have to deal with competition from Cody Gibson. Matulis started five games last year, including the final four, and Gibson started four.

WIDE RECEIVER WATCH

Alshon Jeffery is gone, but Ace Sanders continues to make a good impression. Shaq Roland, one of last year’s most talked about recruits, is coming in, but, from the looks of things this summer, could be overshadowed by fellow incoming freshman Kwinton Smith.

Upperclassmen D.L. Moore and DeAngelo Smith are listed as starters but need to prove something quickly to hold onto those jobs after combining for 11 catches last season.

Taking everything into account, it will be the team’s most interesting position grouping in the preseason.