South Carolina is entering SEC prep with a few injury questions still hanging over the roster, but Shane Beamer sounded upbeat about the most notable ones after Sunday night’s practice.
Beamer said offensive tackle Jacarrius Peak and defensive end Dylan Stewart are “trending in the right direction” as the Gamecocks turn the page from Towson and into conference work. South Carolina was back on the field roughly 24 hours after kickoff, held a Sunday evening workout, then got Monday off before returning to practice Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The first SEC availability report comes Wednesday night, and Peak and Stewart are not the only names worth watching. Center Carter Miller, wide receiver DJ Black and tight end Maurice Brown II are also working through injuries ahead of Week 3.
Miller, who has a back issue, and Brown, dealing with a leg bruise, both played against Towson. Black was held out for precautionary reasons because of a leg tissue injury.
Beamer also said reserve linebacker AJ Holloway is injured.
“Coming out of last night, no long-term concerns,” Beamer said. “All the guys that left the game last night - I wouldn't say they're 100 percent today, but certainly optimistic they'll be in good shape come Saturday.
Nothing is more serious today than what we thought it was last night. Just got to get them healed.”
There was also clarity on transfer kicker Ethan Sanchez, who joined the team only a couple of days before the season opener and did not dress against Towson. Beamer said after the game that keeping Sanchez sidelined was his call, and he repeated Sunday night that it was his decision when asked whether any eligibility issue might be involved.
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South Carolinas Passing Game Has A Bigger Issue Than One Sideline Spat
South Carolinas win over Towson came with a brief sideline flash point when quarterback LaNorris Sellers and receiver Mazeo Bennett got into an animated disagreement over a route. Shane Beamer said afterward the two simply saw the play differently, and the issue has already been smoothed over as the Gamecocks move on from the moment.
The bigger concern is what the exchange revealed about a passing game that still needs work before SEC play begins. Sellers finished 10 of 23 for 96 yards, and while the result was never in doubt against Towson, South Carolina knows the margin for error shrinks fast once the league schedule arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Shane Beamers Biggest Concern After South Carolinas Sloppy Win
Shane Beamer had plenty to sort through after South Carolinas uneven win over Towson, and the head coach did not try to sugarcoat how the afternoon unfolded. He liked the way his team answered in the second half, but the first half left him with the kind of concerns that tend to linger after a game like this: miscues, the wet conditions, dropped passes and a performance that never quite found rhythm when it should have.
Beamer also touched on a few of the individual decisions and roster notes that shaped the day, including the depth he sees in the running back room and the status of players such as Vicari. He also explained why Ethan Sanchez never got into the kicking game, a choice that fit into a broader picture of South Carolina trying to clean up details while still coming away with a win. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi States SEC Opener Comes With One Big South Carolina Unknown
South Carolina heads into its SEC opener against Mississippi State with some welcome health news after a 45-9 win over Towson pushed Shane Beamers team to 2-0. Beamer said Carter Miller, Maurice Brown and DJ Black are expected to be available for Saturdays 4:15 p.m. ET kickoff on SEC Network, giving the Gamecocks a clearer picture as conference play begins.
The bigger unknown now is how much of that depth translates once the tests get more serious. Opening SEC play always brings a different level of scrutiny, and for South Carolina the question is less about getting bodies back than about how the roster holds up when the margin for error shrinks and every snap starts to matter a little more. [Read more 🡒]
