USC defensive lineman Nathan Pepper runs through drills during practice in this file photograph.
South Carolina senior defensive tackle No. 95 Nathan Pepper, South Carolina senior strong safety No. 24 Darian Stewart and South Carolina senior linebacker No. 40 Eric Norwood celebrate a Norwood sack during the second quarter as USC leads N.C. State 7-0 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh on Sept. 3.
The middle of the South Carolina defense has taken another hit.
Starting defensive tackle Nathan Pepper could miss two to three weeks after spraining his right ankle in the first half of a 41-37 loss at Georgia, Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier said Sunday.
Spurrier said Pepper is doubtful for Saturday’s game against Florida Atlantic. The Gamecocks already are without middle linebacker Rodney Paulk, who sustained a season-ending knee injury against N.C. State, and defensive tackle Ladi Ajiboye, who is set to return from a three-game suspension Sept. 24 against Mississippi.
Travian Robertson filled in for Ajiboye the first two games. Spurrier said Melvin Ingram or Kenny Davis would take Pepper’s spot if he does not play.
USC missed the sure-tackling Paulk at Georgia. His replacement, Shaq Wilson, had one tackle and had a hard time shedding the blocks of the Bulldogs’ linemen.
“Shaq’s not a big linebacker. Seems like those big Georgia linemen were sort of consuming him at times,” Spurrier said of the 5-foot-11, 210-pound Wilson. “We probably need to keep those linemen off Shaq.”
After Pepper left the game, USC employed more three-man fronts, giving the Bulldogs’ guards a clearer path to Wilson.
What could have been. Receiver Tori Gurley is tied for the team high in touchdown catches with Brian Maddox, but he is the runaway leader in touchdown catches called back.
Gurley had two more scoring strikes nullified by penalties against Georgia, giving him three in two games. The redshirt freshman from Rock Hill had one waved off at N.C. State after he was whistled for offensive pass interference.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that before,” Spurrier said. “He almost had one of the all-time nights for a Carolina receiver.”
After Gurley caught a 6-yard score in the first quarter, his 43-yard touchdown was called back when tight end Weslye Saunders was ruled to be an ineligible receiver downfield because the Gamecocks lined up wrong.
A 30-yard strike from Stephen Garcia to Gurley in the second half was brought back by a holding penalty against left guard Terrence Campbell, which Spurrier described as a “close call.”
Dressed to impress. Spurrier is partial to visors, golf shirts and khakis. But the Head Ball Coach can appreciate a more formal look, as he proved Sunday when discussing Howard Schnellenberger, Florida Atlantic’s 75-year-old coach.
“I think he’s the only guy left that wears that coat and tie on the sideline. I was watching their tape and I said, ‘Yeah, there’s coach Schnellenberger on the sideline,’ ” Spurrier said. “That adds a little prestige and respect to the coaching profession. And he certainly does that.”
Extra points. Eric Norwood’s fourth-quarter interception was the first of his career. Norwood returned the pick 35 yards for a touchdown, his third defensive score. ... The Gamecocks’ two leading tacklers were their safeties. Darian Stewart matched his career high with 11 tackles, while Chris Culliver added six stops. ... Culliver is two kickoff returns and 155 return yards shy of the school records in both categories.
Reach Person at (803) 771-8496.
Comments
@Nyx.CommentBody@