South Carolina reserve cornerback Jay Spearman, who has been plagued by shoulder injuries since arriving at USC, has been granted a medical hardship from the NCAA, according to sources close to the program.

Though his career is over, Spearman will be kept on scholarship but will not count against the Gamecocks' 85-scholarship limit.

The redshirt sophomore from Greenwood played in three games last season on special teams.

-- Joseph Person