As injuries remain a major storyline for the 2023 South Carolina football team, Gamecock fans can find a little bit of solace in knowing that a few of the banged-up players on their favorite team are seeing some improvement.
This week, head coach Shane Beamer has offered several updates on his injured Gamecocks.
Early in the week during his Sunday teleconference and Tuesday media availability, Coach Beamer revealed that Trai Jones was doubtful for the game and “everyone else” that could be asked about was “questionable.”
He then added that star receiver Juice Wells was getting “closer and closer” to a return. He would not rule Wells out for this weekend, something that is a deviation from recent weeks.
By the time Beamer spoke to South Carolina football fans during his weekly “Carolina Calls” event, he had a few more updates to offer.
The most significant updates came from the wide receiver room and the offensive line unit, a position group that has double-digit players affected by injury this season.
At wide receiver, breakout star Xavier Legette was called “100%” for Saturday’s contest. Slot receiver Ahmarean Brown was also described as “good to go.” Wells was again described as “getting closer,” but it seems doubtful that he would suit up this weekend.
Left tackle Tree Babalade and right guard Tro Baugh were both limited against Texas A&M (Babalade wouldn’t have played had other players not gotten injured), but Beamer said that both freshmen linemen would be “good to go.”
Starting center-turned-right-guard Vershon Lee will be back on Saturday against Jacksonville State. Where he will play is unknown as he has played both center and right guard this season and has experience as a right guard, as well.
Left guard Trai Jones will be out as he is dealing with a high ankle sprain that he suffered against Texas A&M. It is expected that Jakai Moore will play in his place and that Tree Babalade is healthy enough to go at the left tackle spot.
Week 1 right tackle starter Cason Henry is back from his knee injury and is available. How much he will play (if at all) was not revealed. The Gamecocks now have Tree Babalade, Nick Gargiulo, Vershon Lee, Tro Baugh, Jakai Moore, Cason Henry, Sidney Fugar, and Tyshawn Wannamaker available as players who have started at least one game up front this season.
Tight end Trey Knox was another player who got hurt in South Carolina football’s loss to the Aggies. Beamer didn’t provide much of an update other than he is “not ready to rule out” Knox for Saturday. The update doesn’t sound promising for his chances to play. Josh Simon would start in place of Knox, and freshman Connor Cox and transfer Nick Elksnis have been the next men up at times this season, so they could be in line for some playing time if #1 misses the game.