Shane Beamer updates status of Mo Kaba, Jordan Strachan as they return from torn ACLs

The South Carolina Gamecocks suffered some early blows during the 2022 season when torn ACLs sidelined Mo Kaba and Jordan Strachan just two games in.

The pair has been rehabbing ever since, and South Carolina coach Shane Beamer provided a hopeful update on Tuesday.

“I think they’re right where they need to be,” Beamer said at the Welcome Home Tour event. “Obviously they really didn’t do anything in spring practice, but they’ve got the month of May, they’re working hard in rehab. We expect them to be full go once we get rolling in the summer. One hundred percent full go by the time practice comes around in August.”

Both players could be key pieces on the team’s defense this fall.

Kaba is a linebacker who managed to rack up 32 tackles, including two for a loss, during his second season at South Carolina in 2021. Strachan is a veteran edge defender who recorded 22 tackles, 6.0 tackles for a loss, 3.0 sacks and three passes defended in 2021 after transferring in from Georgia State.

The Gamecocks would love to have them both back, but Beamer is letting the rehab process from the torn ACLs run its course.

“It’s tough, but I also think nowadays with the way that medicine is and rehabs and surgeries that you can sometimes get stronger and stronger after each one,” Beamer said. “You never want to wish a second ACL or a first ACL on anybody, but it’s not what it was 10, 15 years ago. Guys come back from it quicker and in a lot of ways they come back stronger. To me it’s a mental hurdle that you have to overcome from an injury standpoint. But those guys are tough-minded kids.”

Torn ACLs not the only injury concern

Unfortunately for South Carolina, Kaba and Strachan returning from torn ACLs isn’t the only injury concern. The Gamecocks suffered an unfortunate injury during the team’s spring game.

Left tackle Jaylen Nichols went down during the game and suffered an injury that Beamer described as significant, noting he will miss at least the start of the 2023 season as a result.

How South Carolina replaces Nichols remains to be seen.

“We’ve got quite a few guys that have some position flexibility that worked out there during spring practice,” Beamer said. “That’s the way we always try and do things is the more you can do, the better. So whether it’s playing guard and tackle, whether it’s playing left side and right side, whether it’s playing center and guard, we try and work guys all over the place.

“I’d say there’s a handful of guys that certainly can do that and that would be something that we’ll continue to work over the summer, as well.”