South Carolina four-star freshman MarShawn Lloyd suffers season-ending injury
South Carolina tailback Deshaun Fenwick had just finished praising true freshman MarShawn Lloyd, calling the first-year back “extraordinary” and a potential All-SEC freshman.
And now Lloyd’s 2020 season is over before it started.
Rumors of the injury started spreading after the team’s weight room and film session Thursday morning. The school shortly after noon confirmed Lloyd has a torn ACL suffered in Wednesday’s practice.
“I’m extremely disappointed for MarShawn,” South Carolina coach Will Muschamp said in a statement. “It was a non-contact situation where he just planted his foot and tore his ACL. MarShawn will attack his rehabilitation like he does everything in life. The best is yet to come for MarShawn Lloyd.”
No date has been set for his surgery.
“It’s obviously devastating,” USC offensive coordinator Mike Bobo told reporters Thursday. “It’s devastating for MarShawn. What an amazing young man. Since he’s been here, he’s been nothing but all in.”
The four-star back out of the Washington, D.C., area was the highest-rated recruit of the Will Muschamp era, considered No. 43 nationally in the 247Sports Composite rankings.
He ran for more than 1,100 yards in high school last season, but his impact when he arrived on campus spoke louder. Player after player talked about his talent, his ability to juke defenders and make plays.
At least one practice clip leaked out of Lloyd throwing a spin move on a veteran linebacker and leaving him in the dust.
“MarShawn Lloyd is a supreme talent,” Fenwick said less than an hour before the injury was announced. “I love to have a guy like that in my room. I love to see him work each and every day. He really looks extraordinary out there.”
Fenwick predicted a freshman All-SEC campaign, but now that will have to wait. The NCAA on Wednesday said players will not lose a year of eligibility if they play in this coronavirus-abbreviated season.
Without Lloyd, the Gamecocks will have to rely on talented junior college transfer Zaquandre White and underclassmen in Kevin Harris, Rashad Amos and Fenwick.
Lloyd posted an inspirational message to his Instagram and Twitter pages Thursday afternoon: “With adversity, most would give up on it because it’s not happening right now. Nope, stay with it! Pray more, lean on him more, talk to him more! The story is already written. You just have to trust and follow the map. Minor setback for a major comeback.”
This story was originally published August 20, 2020 at 12:25 PM.
