South Carolina Football bit by injury bug in first half against UNC

Shane Beamer’s South Carolina football team opened their season against the North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday in Charlotte, and the two teams played a competitive first half.

However, it was pretty clear that the Tar Heels outplayed the Gamecocks for most of the opening half. Some of this was due to the injury bug rearing its ugly head and biting the Gamecocks repeatedly. The score stood 17-14 at the intermission in favor of the Tar Heels.

On the opening kickoff, preseason All-SEC linebacker Mo Kaba was injured and did not return to the game. Kaba was visibly very upset on the sidelines and had to be consoled by coaches, trainers, and teammates but no details emerged about his injury. Debo Williams and Stone Blanton were announced as the starters at linebacker and got the majority of the 1st half reps.

On the first defensive play of the game, Freshman All-American safety Nick Emmanwori hurt his hamstring. Emmanwori tried returning but had to be removed again. Coach Shane Beamer acknowledged the injury as a hamstring pull during a sideline interview. BJ Gibson came in initially (and still played some), but true freshman Jalon Kilgore got most of the snaps in relief of #21.

On the second offensive series, redshirt freshman offensive tackle Cason Henry got rolled up on a run play and left the game with what appeared to be a leg injury. He motioned to his knee when speaking with the training staff. Tyshawn Wannamaker replaced him at right tackle. He spent a considerable amount of time in the injury tent.

Wide receiver Xavier Legette had a tremendous first half but got banged up while blocking for Ahmarean Brown on the last drive of the half. O’Mega Blake came in for Legette.

Emmanwori was ruled out for the rest of the game, but no official word came in from the South Carolina football staff on the status of Henry, Kaba, or Legette.