South Carolina football: Gamecocks may be without Shi Smith vs Georgia

South Carolina football likely playing without top WR vs. Georgia.

South Carolina will host SEC rival Georgia this Thanksgiving weekend in its ninth contest of the season, but they may be a bit shorthanded on the offensive side of the football. Senior wide receiver Shi Smith, who was injured on the first drive of the Missouri game, has been downgraded to ‘doubtful’ this Saturday.

Smith was hit by a handful of Tiger defenders in the 17-10 loss, resulting in a concussion. He did not return to the game, and it looks likely that he’ll miss a matchup with the Bulldogs, too.

"“Shi Smith is, I would say, doubtful for (Georgia),” coach Mike Bobo said on Tuesday. “Dakereon (Joyner) practiced today. He had limited practice today, with the amount of periods our training staff let him go, but I thought he looked good. I would say – I didn’t get the update today, but I don’t want to upgrade him to probable – I would say he’s questionable to probable.”"

Smith leads the team in catches (54), receiving yards (605), and touchdown receptions (4). He’s the SEC’s third leading receiver through eight games.

The Gamecocks will also be without fellow starting pass catcher Xavier Legette, meaning whoever is under center may have a tough time finding options to throw the football to.

Bobo also noted that the team is without 16 scholarship players on the defense, with a number of players being injured on top of the recent opt outs of Jaycee Horn, Israel Mukuamu, and RJ Roderick.

Still, the interim head coach is looking ahead to Georgia.

"“Whoever is here, willing to play, we’re going to coach them up and whoever the coaching staff says can play, we’re going to coach them up, and we’re going to go out there and battle our asses off.”"