South Carolina appears to be tweaking starting lineup ahead of Georgia game

For the second time in as many weeks, South Carolina is tweaking its starting lineup.

The Gamecocks appears to have a true freshman at left tackle with Tree Babalade taking first team reps in pregame warmups This would his first career start for South Carolina. Babalade, a four-star freshman, played last week in his college debut and did enough it seems to move into a starting role.

Sidney Fugar was working at right tackle with Jakai Moore at right guard.

Defensively, Nick Emmanwori and Keenan Nelson were working with the first team.

Dowell Loggains was very high on his freshmen offensive linemen after last week.

“There will be ups and downs when they play. There will be. Especially when you’re young. But they get it. They understand there will be some down moments, some hard moments. But they know the process of growth is getting thrown in the fire and going and doing it,” Loggains said.

“I don’t worry about their confidence. You can’t put a value on experience. As a coach, you really don’t know what you have until he gets out there and plays.”

Final injury report

It’s no secret South Carolina is banged up right now, and Shane Beamer gave a final injury update before the Gamecocks head to Georgia this weekend. 

Speaking on his weekly Carolina Calls show with Todd Ellis, and it was a somewhat positive report.

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Shane Beamer said Nick Emmanwori and David Spaulding–while not 100 percent–practiced all week and are “good to go” for Saturday afternoon.

“David Spaulding and Nick Emmanwori both practiced every day this week and they’re good to go. Are they 100 percent? Probably not,” Beamer said. “We track speeds in practice and Nick ran faster today than he has at any point this summer. he’s in a good position. Both of those guys–David and Nick–are key here Saturday. We need them both. Both will play.”

He did mention both JT Geer and Markee Anderson will be out and the rest of the injured group is “questionable.”

“We were optimistic both Markee Anderson and JT Geer would be back but they will not play. Everyone else is still questionable,” Beamer said. “We’ll take 74 guys. The 74 guys we’re taking tomorrow are guys who have a role and can legitimately can get in the game.”

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Emmanwori’s been out for all but one play this season after a hamstring injury against North Carolina while JT Geer and Markee Anderson have missed both games to start the year recovering from preseason injuries. 

Keenan Nelson, David Spaulding and Ahmarean Brown have been considered questionable since the start of the week recovering from injuries sustained over the course of the last few weeks. 

Spaulding was hurt in the North Carolina game while Nelson and Brown were banged up against Furman. Beamer didn’t say exactly what Nelson’s injury was and has called Brown’s injury a hamstring. 

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“Those are things that can linger throughout the season if you don’t let them heal the right way,” Beamer said Tuesday on a pair of hamstring injuries. “You don’t want to rush things, for sure. But we’re smart with it. Clint (Haggard), down in the training room, and our strength and conditioning staff, ramping him up and trying to do what he can do each and every day.”

With Emmanwori out the last two weeks, Jalon Kilgore is getting the bulk of snaps at safety alongside DQ Smith. Kajuan Banks has repped at nickel there while Eddie Lewis saw the majority of slot reps after Brown was injured on a punt return. 

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There are only a few long-term injuries on the roster currently with Jaylen Nichols and Ryan Brubaker out for a considerable amount of time. Cason Henry will be out “awhile” after being rolled up on against North Carolina. 

While a timetable hasn’t been given on Henry, Beamer mentioned last week he’ll be out at least a month. 

The Gamecocks head down to play the top-ranked Bulldogs on Saturday in what could be their final 3:30 p.m. CBS kickoff before the TV contracts change. 

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Georgia’s won the last three games in the series 133-36 and 88-20 in two matchups under Shane Beamer. The last Gamecocks’ win in the series came in 2019 when South Carolina upset the Bulldogs 20-17 in double overtime.

That was the last home loss Georgia’s suffered, sporting a 20-game home win streak heading into Saturday. 

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