Tennessee’s trip to South Carolina just got a little easier on paper.
The Gamecocks lost two receivers to season-ending lower-body injuries over the weekend, according to The Post and Courier’s David Cloninger. Jayden Gibson and Jayden Sellers are both done for the year, thinning out a South Carolina pass-catching group that was already expected to lean heavily on its top options.
Neither player was projected to open the season as a starter, but both were in line to provide meaningful depth. Gibson, a former Oklahoma receiver, hasn’t played since the 2023 season. In that year, the Florida native caught 14 passes for 375 yards and five touchdowns, making his name as a big-play threat.
Sellers had started to carve out a role last season as a true freshman. He finished with 22 catches for 337 yards and a touchdown, numbers that stood out even more because South Carolina’s passing game struggled so badly. Sellers ranked third on the team in receptions and receiving yards.
The injuries land as South Carolina tries to rebound from a rough 2025 season. The Gamecocks went 4-8 despite having quarterback LaNorris Sellers and pass rusher Dylan Stewart on the roster. South Carolina moved on from offensive coordinator Mike Shula and brought in Kendall Briles, hoping the new hire sparks a turnaround.
LaNorris Sellers remains the biggest reason for optimism. He threw 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions last season, and his running ability keeps him in the conversation as one of the SEC’s best quarterbacks if he cuts down on turnovers. Over the last two seasons, he has rushed for 944 yards and 12 touchdowns.
South Carolina’s receiver room still has options. Nyck Harbour, Mazeo Bennett and Georgia transfer Nitro Tuggle are projected to be the starters, with Harbour and Tuggle bringing the kind of big-play ability that can change a game in a hurry.
Tennessee, meanwhile, walks into a tricky scheduling spot. The Vols head to Columbia on Oct. 21, coming off a game against Alabama in Knoxville the week before and playing their eighth straight game before their only open date of the season. South Carolina gets its bye the week before Tennessee arrives.
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Tennessee's AP Poll Reveal Carries More Weight Than Fans Think
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A critical scrimmage has already given Tennessee another important checkpoint as it sorts out key decisions and settles into a new staff dynamic on defense. The AP ranking will not answer every question, but it will frame the conversation around a team trying to balance expectations with unfinished business. For a fan base watching every practice report, even an early poll spot can feel like part of the season itself. [Read more 🡒]