South Carolina’s long-running injury watch is still not over, but the first SEC availability report brought some clarity for the Gamecocks heading into Saturday’s matchup with Mississippi State.
Dylan Stewart and Jacarrius Peak, two of the most significant pieces on South Carolina’s defensive and offensive lines, were both listed as probable on Wednesday. That designation puts each at a 75 percent chance to play under SEC guidelines. Both players have been working their way back after missing spring and summer practices and only recently returned to full team work - Stewart after a back injury suffered in the middle of last season, and Peak after a knee injury from a January team-building basketball event.
Coach Shane Beamer has hinted at their return in recent weeks, though he has stopped short of declaring either one fully ready. He also said that players coming back from long-term injuries would probably not be immediate starters, since they would need to be eased back into action.
That would fit what South Carolina has done so far. Caleb Herring has started at defensive end in the first two games, with USC using just one defensive end against Kent State.
Anthony Addison handled the other side in a four-man front against Towson. On the offensive line, freshman Darius Gray opened at left tackle and would be the logical candidate to slide elsewhere if Peak takes over the spot he was brought in from NC State to fill.
The report wasn’t entirely encouraging, though. Starting center Carter Miller, who left the Towson game with muscle tightness in his back, was listed as questionable. Nolan Hay stepped in for Miller against the Tigers.
South Carolina also ruled out third-string quarterback Lucian Anderson, who has taken a few snaps in each game so far. That leaves freshman Landon Duckworth in the QB3 spot behind backup Cutter Woods.
Linebacker A.J. Holloway was also listed as out. Beamer said Holloway has been dealing with an injury.
The availability report will be updated again at 8:10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, with a final version coming 90 minutes before kickoff Saturday, around 2:45 p.m.
Elsewhere, Clemson quarterback Christopher Vizzina was listed as probable in the Tigers’ initial availability report Wednesday night. Vizzina hurt his left elbow against Georgia Southern on Sept. 12, a play that left his arm numb and knocked him out for the rest of that game. Tigers coach Dabo Swinney had already named freshman Tait Reynolds the starter for Clemson’s game against North Carolina on Sept. 19, and said Reynolds’ start had nothing to do with Vizzina’s injury.
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