South Carolina Gamecocks News: Football, injury report, recruiting, and more

Here is the latest South Carolina Gamecocks News, starting with the South Carolina football team’s game with the North Carolina Tar Heels from Saturday.

The Gamecocks fell to the Tar Heels 31-17, largely due to poor performances up front on both the offensive line and defensive line.

Injuries were a big part of the loss to UNC, as well.

Wide receiver Antwane “Juice” Wells wasn’t healthy coming into the game and re-aggravated his foot injury according to Coach Shane Beamer. He has been called questionable for next week’s game against Furman.

Safety Nick Emmanwori couldn’t finish the game with a hamstring injury. He has also been called questionable for next week.

Wide receiver Ahmarean Brown was removed from the game with an undisclosed issue but is probable for the Furman game.

Offensive lineman Cason Henry left the game with what looked like a knee injury and is considered out. Beamer said Henry will be out for “a while.”

Linebacker Mo Kaba exited the contest and is also set to be out for “a while,” but Beamer also said that he and Kaba will announce more at a later time, something that usually indicates bad news.

Defensive back David Spaulding left the game and did not return but is not on the injury report.

Wide receiver Xavier Legette battled some minor injuries throughout the night but kept returning and is not on the injury report.

Offensive lineman Markee Anderson was a late scratch from the travel roster and is considered questionable for the next game against Furman.

Two Gamecock freshmen made the preseason watch list for a big-time award.

The Shaun Alexander Award, given to the top freshman in college football, included both Grayson “Pup” Howard and Nyckoles Harbor on its preseason watch list.

A major South Carolina football recruiting target set a big-time record.

Class of 2025 quarterback Ryan Montgomery broke a record that was previously held by future Pro Football Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger. Montgomery broke Findlay High School’s record for most passing yards in a game with 491. The 4-star QB has the Gamecocks as one of his five finalists, along with Penn State, Michigan, Georgia, and Florida.

Some former Gamecock rookies made official NFL 53-man rosters.

Tight end Nate Adkins (undrafted to the Denver Broncos), wide receiver Jalen Brooks (7th round to the Dallas Cowboys), and offensive lineman Jovaughn Gwyn (7th round to the Atlanta Falcons) joined Cam Smith (2nd round to the Miami Dolphins) and Zacch Pickens (3rd round to the Chicago Bears) as official roster additions last week.

After inexplicably being cut, a former Gamecock upgraded his NFL scenery by signing with the Super Bowl Champs.

Cornerback Darius Rush will no longer be a member of the Indianapolis Colts but will play for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Another former Gamecock received a major NFL honor.

Third-year linebacker Ernest Jones was named a captain for the Los Angeles Rams.

South Carolina basketball released their complete out-of-conference schedule for this year.

The schedule can be viewed here.

Dawn Staley’s women’s basketball squad was named a finalist for a big-time recruit.

Class of 2024 4-star prospect (and future 5-star) Adhel Tac named the Gamecocks a finalist along with Georgia, Louisville, and North Carolina.

South Carolina basketball alum Aja Wilson, to no one’s surprise, won another award.

Wilson was named the WNBA’s Western Conference Player of the Week after her record-tying 53-point outburst.

Aliyah Boston also got in on the action of having a good week in the WNBA.

Boston set her own career high with 27 points in a double-double against the Dallas Wings.

Mark Kingston’s South Carolina baseball team picked up a couple of big commitments.

TL Hanna High School put two players into the ranks of the committed Gamecocks. Right-handed pitcher Seth Manning and shortstop Will Craddock made their pledges to the South Carolina baseball program last week. They are both part of the 2025 class and have a teammate (class of 2026 left-handed pitcher Jackson Robinson) from TL Hanna who is also committed.