How banged-up South Carolina defense is preparing for matchup with No. 1 Georgia
If there is anyone on South Carolina’s roster that knows about dealing with injuries it’s Sherrod Greene.
The senior linebacker has dealt with season-ending injuries the past two years. On Saturday, Greene will return to the starting lineup for USC’s matchup against No. 1 Georgia. He replaces Mo Kaba, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury last week against Arkansas.
Freshman Stone Blanton will back up Greene at linebacker and has gotten strong reviews from USC coaches and players over the summer.
Greene missed the opener against Georgia State but had eight tackles last week against Arkansas. It has been almost a year since Greene has started a game. He suffered an ankle injury on the second play of last year’s game against Georgia.
“It’s motivation for me, especially the fact that I got hurt a year ago against Georgia,” Greene said Tuesday. “It’s kind of a bit of revenge for me. I definitely have a bit of a chip on my shoulder this week.”
Kaba was one of two USC players who suffered a season-ending injury last week. Defensive end Jordan Strachan also will miss the remainder of the year after tearing his ACL. Gilber Edmond will take Strachan’s place and will be backed by North Carolina State transfer Terrell Dawkins.
Greene and defensive coordinator Clayton White both have reached out to Kaba and Strachan and tried to keep their spirits up as they deal with missing the rest of the season.
“You definitely have to be a man about it. The most important thing about them is their emotional state of being and that they are still up,” White said Wednesday. “I missed some of my senior year, so I know that feeling.
“Other guys have to understand that it’s next man up. … I think our guys understand that. We have been through that last year at other positions.”
The injuries to Kaba and Strachan are just two that the Gamecocks are dealing with as they host the defending national champions. USC head coach Shane Beamer said Tuesday that defensive backs Cam Smith, R.J. Roderick and David Spaulding as well defensive lineman Alex Huntley and receiver Corey Rucker are all questionable.
Smith and Spaulding both play the nickel back position in the secondary. If neither of those players can go, White said Wednesday that Marcellas Dial will start in that position. Dial had three tackles against the Razorbacks.
Beamer has preached during the offseason that USC is a deeper team than in his first season, and it will be put to the test early on the defensive side of the ball.
“We definitely developed depth. We know we are in a league that we could be on your third or fourth guy playing at any time,” White said. “So we are always trying to develop our young guys in our program through our strength program and through practice. Now, those guys are getting more reps at practice, and we are excited to see the depth we have.”
This story was originally published September 14, 2022 at 4:25 PM.
