South Carolina football injury report with nine days left until opener
South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer updated the health on Thursday of his football team with nine days left until the season opener.
“We’re in pretty good shape right now,” he said during Carolina Calls. Kudos to Clint Haggard, Luke Day and his strength and conditioning staff, Yimi Rodriguez in nutrition, the way they’ve prepared our guys for the season and being able to stay healthy.”
The position hit hardest by injury last season was the offensive line. While USC’s in better shape than last season at that spot and overall, there are two players from that unit who won’t play in the opener.
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“Aaryn Parks is an offensive lineman that got an ankle rolled up on last Saturday in the scrimmage,” Beamer said. “He’s probably going to be out for a while. Midseason would probably be the most optimistic. Jakai Moore, I feel for him, he’s a sixth-year guy. He will be out for a little while, we’ll see how long term that is shortly.”
USC’s fourth-year coach is hopeful that the Gamecocks can avoid further injuries; USC lost Cason Henry and Nick Emmanwori early in the season opener in 2023.
He’s otherwise pleased with how things have gone on the health front.
“We’ve practiced the right way, we’re a mature group. I’m praying we won’t have any issues next Saturday afternoon.”
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Beamer noted after Saturday’s scrimmage that cornerback Emory Floyd had a “lower body issue” but that he was expected to play in game one.
As previously reported, EDGE Bryan Thomas Jr., TE Reid Mikeska, TE Nick Elksnis, OL Jakai Moore, and EDGE Elijah Davis were held out of Saturday’s scrimmage.
Moore was the only player out of that group that was listed by Beamer during Thursday’s call-in show, although host Todd Ellis did ask him to speak to major contributors and/or starters.
Runing backs Rocket Sanders and Juju McDowell, linebacker Bam Martin-Scott, and wide receiver Vandrevius Jacobs — all projected contributors who missed the prior week’s scrimmage — were back in action at Williams-Brice for the final scrimmage on Saturday.
The Gamecocks kick off the 2024 season in Williams-Brice Stadium on August 31 at 4:15 p.m. against Old Dominion.
