Why Israel Mukuamu wasn’t on the field late in South Carolina’s loss to Tennessee
On Tennessee’s game-winning touchdown in Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday night, redshirt freshman Cam Smith was the player picked on in a big moment.
He’s a backup. The starter, Israel Mukuamu, was on the sideline, without a helmet, unable to participate.
Muschamp said a groin issue kept him out and forced the Gamecocks to stretch their defensive depth a little more than they’d hope. He also said linebacker Sherrod Greene suffered a minor hip injury.
“He had a groin and we didn’t feel comfortable putting him back in the game,” Muschamp said. “And then Sherrod Green had a hip. We’ve done all the X rays. He’s fine. It’s just more of a muscular thing. But those are the only two injuries from the game.”
Mukuamu is a potential NFL Draft pick as a 6-foot-4 corner. The Gamecocks came into the season with depth questions, and rolled either Jaylin Dickerson or Shilo Sanders in as the fifth defensive back in nickel.
Smith finished with no box score stats.
The Gamecocks were also without linebackers Rosendo Louis and Jahmar Brown, which left them a bit thin at the position when Greene went down.
This story was originally published September 26, 2020 at 11:36 PM.
