Two Gamecocks opt out of 2020 season with COVID-19 concerns
Two South Carolina football players have opted out of the 2020 college football season, Will Muschamp announced on Wednesday.
The coach said offensive linemen Jordan Rhodes and Mark Fox would will not play because of COVID-19 concerns. They’re the first Gamecocks to make that decision.
Rhodes, a redshirt junior, was a starter in 2019, starting the final 11 games. Fox redshirted as a freshman last year.
“I totally respect and understand their decisions,” Muschamp said. “That’s certainly their right at this time.”
Both USC players remain on scholarship and both have returned home to stay with their families, Muschamp said.
“Southeastern Conference student-athletes who elect to not participate in intercollegiate athletics during the fall 2020 academic semester because of health and/or safety concerns related to COVID-19 will continue to have their scholarships honored by their university and will remain in good standing with their team,” the SEC announced earlier this summer.
What role Fox might have held in 2020 was far from certain, as young offensive linemen often take time to develop. Losing Rhodes means the Gamecocks have more clarity on the line, as he was set to compete with fellow starter Jovaughn Gwyn and former tackle Sadarius Hutcherson for the guard spots. It might reduce the chances Gwyn slides over to center unless another guard emerges this month.
South Carolina can start official preseason practice Aug. 17. SEC teams will play a 10-game conference-only schedule that begins Sept. 26.
It’s assumed USC’s new schedule will keep its original SEC foes: home games vs. Missouri, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Georgia; and road games at Kentucky, Florida, Vanderbilt and LSU. The Gamecocks still don’t yet know who their extra two opponents are, though some speculation has pointed to Arkansas and Auburn.
News, notes and injuries
▪ Muschamp said the positive coronavirus test rate in the football operations building has been less than 5 percent.
▪ Junior linebacker Ernest Jones had his appendix removed last week and will miss some time but should be ready for the season.
▪ Freshman tight end Jaheim Bell is expected to return to the field on Oct. 1 after a minor procedure to deal with a meniscus.
▪ Linebacker Rosendo Louis tore a tendon in his quad and will be back in mid-September. Wide receiver Chad Terrell is expected to be back around the same time from a torn ACL.
▪ Freshman tight end Eric Shaw had to deal with some bone spurs and will be out the next two weeks.
This story was originally published August 5, 2020 at 3:12 PM.
