Just a day after South Carolina finished its first preseason scrimmage, the Gamecocks were back on the field Sunday for the ninth practice of camp, and there was at least one encouraging sight: Jacarrius Peak was out there for the first time this month.
Peak, the left tackle working back from a knee injury, had not been visible during the media’s first look at practice earlier in August. This time, he was walking barefoot around the field with strength and conditioning coach Chip Morton. During the periods open to reporters, Peak wore a brace on his left knee and completed one lap without anything in hand before doing another with a medicine ball resting on his shoulder.
That was the clearest sign of progress on a day when Dylan Stewart still remained on the sideline and did not take part in practice. It’s still not known when either player will be ready for full participation.
South Carolina also had to practice without wide receiver Jayden Sellers and Jayden Gibson, both of whom will miss the 2026 season after sustaining season-ending lower-leg injuries in practice this week.
Reporters were able to watch and photograph six periods on Sunday, though a section of the field was closed off to photos and video during the second period. That stretch appeared to be devoted to punts and punt return work. Among the players seen fielding punts were freshman Sequel Patterson, sophomore Donovan Murph, redshirt junior Vicari Swain and redshirt junior Charly Mullaly, the Holy Cross transfer.
There was also plenty of teaching going on along the offensive line, especially with freshman Neff Giwa. The 6-foot-7, 305-pound Irish rugby player is still getting used to football, and offensive line coach Randy Clements was right on top of his reps.
More than once, Giwa finished a drill only to be sent through it again after Clements offered corrections. On one rep in which the linemen were supposed to shuffle twice before striking a bag, Giwa leaned toward the bag before moving his feet.
Clements made the point plain: “Feet first,” he told Giwa.
Running back Matt Fuller, who is expected to start for the Gamecocks this year, practiced in a blue non-contact jersey with his left hand heavily wrapped. Even so, he stayed in pads and took part in drills during the portion of practice the media could see.
Offensive lineman Adeamola Ajidahun was also nearby but not taking part in individual drills. He wasn’t working with the injured players, either, though he did have a light brace on his left knee and watched the O-line work closely without going through the reps.
Other players seen without pads and off to the side were transfer defensive lineman Tomiwa Durojaiye, redshirt freshman linebacker AJ Holloway and redshirt freshman edge rusher Kobby Sakai-Prah.
In Other News...
South Carolina's Passing Game Just Took Another Painful Hit
South Carolinas receiver room took another hit this week when Jayden Sellers went down with a lower body injury in practice, a setback that will cost him the 2026 season. Sellers had appeared in seven games last year and was lined up for a larger role this fall, making the loss especially frustrating for a passing game that had already been trying to sort out its depth and options.
The timing makes the injury sting even more for a unit that can least afford to lose experienced targets. Jayden Gibson and Jackson Repp are also already out for the season, leaving the Gamecocks with more questions than answers as they keep working through camp and try to build around what remains in the wideout group. [Read more 🡒]
South Carolinas Young Quarterback Brings A Powerful Story And Real Upside
Landon Duckworth arrives in Columbia with the kind of profile that usually comes with a long runway and a lot of anticipation. The freshman quarterback was a highly ranked dual-threat recruit, and South Carolina beat out a crowded field to land him after a recruiting process that had multiple schools involved. For now, he is expected to learn behind the current starters, but the upside is obvious enough that he already feels like part of the programs future conversation.
Duckworths story also carries a personal weight that goes beyond recruiting rankings and depth charts. He honors his late brother with a chest tattoo, a reminder that the path to this point has included far more than football. As he settles in and develops, the challenge will be turning that promise into a real push for a starting job down the road, which is exactly the kind of next step the Gamecocks will be watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
LaNorris Sellers Now Faces A Tough South Carolina Reality
South Carolinas wide receiver room took another hit in late August, leaving the Gamecocks to sort through their depth just as the season is about to get rolling. Jayden Sellers went down during a scrimmage on Aug. 15, and Jayden Gibson was injured in practice the following week, a tough stretch for a position group that had already been expected to carry more than its share of the load for LaNorris Sellers and the offense.
Shane Beamer addressed the injuries and the state of the receiving corps, but the bigger concern now is how much flexibility South Carolina really has if the room keeps thinning out. Losing one option is difficult enough at this stage of camp, and losing another changes the conversation around who can step up, who can stay healthy and how much the Gamecocks can ask of the passing game once the real games begin. [Read more 🡒]