Injuries to 2 key Gamecocks force changes down roster

South Carolina football coach Will Muschamp announced two key injuries that will sideline offensive tackle Blake Camper and safety Chaz Elder for at least three weeks.

Both will have ripple effects down the roster, though Muschamp declined to name a new starter in Elder’s place.

“We haven’t decided yet,” Muschamp said. “Chris Moody’s a guy that we moved back to safety to try and give us some production there. Steven Montac moved back to safety to give us some production. Jasper Sasser’s in that conversation. D.J. Smith’s in that conversation.”

Elder is out three to four weeks with a rib injury. Moody had been at strongside linebacker/nickel. Montac had been at corner. Sasser filled in when Elder hurt and recorded eight tackles. Smith starts at the other safety spot, possibly opening time for Toure Boyd.

The moves leave Antoine Wilder, a redshirt freshman, as the No. 2 nickel behind Jordan Diggs.

Camper’s ankle injury will sideline him until at least mid-October, and robs the team of most of its line depth as a similar injury also has guard Donell Stanley sidelined for about the same time frame.

The staff opened the year with seven linemen it hoped to rely upon, one fewer than it prefers. Muschamp said redshirt sophomore tackle Malik Young is the next man in, and walk-on true freshman Chandler Farrell can work on the inside. That means the versatility of D.J. Park, who can play tackle or guard, will likely be called on again.

This story was originally published September 13, 2016 at 1:54 PM with the headline "Injuries to 2 key Gamecocks force changes down roster."