Rested Gamecocks Expect Key Players Back

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina gets No. 11 Tennessee at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday with something it has lacked for most of the season: a mostly healthy lineup and an extra week to prepare. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.

The Gamecocks (3-3, 1-3 SEC) spent last week on a bye after their 38-19 road win at Florida, a result that eased the heat on sixth-year coach Shane Beamer following an 0-3 start in conference play. The open date came after seven consecutive games, four of them against league opponents, and injuries had been piling up.

Beamer said at his Tuesday news conference that every player who sat out the Florida game should be available against the Volunteers. That group includes defensive tackle Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, edge rusher Julian Walker and center Carter Miller. Cornerback Judge Collier, who left the Florida game early, is also expected back. Quay’Sheed Scott, hurt in the loss to Kentucky, is the lone question mark, though Beamer said he is trending the right way.

Three Gamecocks are done for the year: offensive tackle Josiah Thompson and receivers Jayden Gibson and Jayden Sellers. The SEC’s first availability report for the game is due Wednesday night, with an update Thursday at 8 p.m.

Tennessee (6-1, 3-1 SEC) arrives with momentum after a 26-10 win over Alabama, its first victory over a ranked opponent in two seasons. The Vols piled up 347 yards to 201 for the Crimson Tide and sacked Alabama’s quarterback five times. Running back DeSean Bishop, the only player in the country with 800 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, carried 32 times for 159 yards and both scores.

Beamer described this Tennessee team as more physical than past versions, leaning on two-tight-end sets while still playing fast, and said stopping the run will decide the game. On the other side, quarterback LaNorris Sellers, fresh off his strongest league performance against Florida, has thrown for 1,338 yards on 115-of-187 passing, with 12 scoring throws against four picks.

The last time Tennessee came to Columbia, in 2022, South Carolina knocked off the fifth-ranked Vols 63-38 behind 438 passing yards and six touchdowns from Spencer Rattler.

Filed under: Clinton SC Sports News