Two key South Carolina defenders on the mend ahead of Florida game
South Carolina football coach Will Muschamp struck an optimistic tone.
He’d been asked about a pair of key defenders in Jahmar Brown and Israel Mukuamu ahead of the team’s game at Florida. Brown has been sidelined for weeks with a knee issue, while a tight groin cost Mukuamu the second half of USC’s opener vs. Tennessee.
But at practice Wednesday, things looked to be OK.
“They’re all looking good,” Muschamp said. “We’re all good.”
Each defender could hold a crucial role in trying to slow a Gators offense that looked ferocious in Game 1 with more than 600 yards and 50 points.
Mukuamu is an anchor in the scondary that is bit short on top-flight reliable players. Without him, they have to dip into a group of younger guys on the bench, and that’s before switching things up to account for the matchup nightmare that is Gators tight end Kyle Pitts (170 yards and four touchdowns against Ole Miss last Saturday).
Brown could be in line to play a serious role if he plays. The team will be without starting weakside linebacker Sherrod Greene for at least a month, and Brown plays that spot. He has a high athletic ceiling and a lot of mobility, so he could play a serious role behind Damani Staley or even start.
The Gamecocks will kick off against Florida at noon in Gainesville.
This story was originally published September 30, 2020 at 12:29 PM.
