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Rich Glickstein/rglickstein@thestate.com/
South Carolina junior defensive end No. 83 Cliff Matthews pulls Vanderbilt running back No. 31 Jared Hawkins down by an ankle during the third quarter.
GoGamecocks.com
Spurrier says Matthews could return
North Carolina State quarterback Russell Wilson, left, is chased down by South Carolina's Cliff Matthews during the second half of their game in Raleigh, N.C., Sept. 3. South Carolina won 7-3.
Gerry Broome/AP
USC coach Steve Spurrier says there's a chance injured defensive end Cliff Matthews could return to face No. 1 Florida on Saturday.
Matthews suffered a shoulder injury in a 31-13 loss at Tennessee and did not play in a loss to Arkansas last Saturday. Spurrier had thought Matthews, a 6-foot-4, 249-pound junior, would not be ready until the Gamecocks' season finale against Clemson on Nov. 28.
Matthews was running around at practice Monday and could see action against the Gators.
With Matthews out, South Carolina used a three-man defensive front instead of its usual 4-3 alignment. Tony Straughter opened at outside linebacker against the Razorbacks.
Matthews had started the first nine games this season. He's fifth on the team with 39 tackles.
-- From staff reports
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