What Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer said of Kentucky quarterback situation
South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer said his team will be ready no matter who Kentucky starts at quarterback on Saturday.
Beamer was asked about the possibility of Kentucky starting quarterback Will Levis not playing on his weekly call-in show on Thursday.
“We’re prepared if he does, we’re prepared if he doesn’t,” Beamer said. “They’ve got a great team around him, with some dynamic receivers, a great running back, a big, physical offensive line, so they pose a lot of challenges, regardless of what’s at quarterback. But obviously he’s a first-round draft pick for a reason.”
Levis will be a game-time decision against South Carolina with an injury that “isn’t long-term serious but could leave him out,” according to Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio. Levis tweaked a “foot/ankle” in last week’s loss to No. 9 Ole Miss and has been spotted in a walking boot this week, per Kyle Tucker of The Athletic.
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops didn’t have an update on Levis to reporters after Thursday’s practice. Stoops said no one has been ruled out for the matchup.
“My policy is always if somebody is out, I’ll tell you,” Stoops said. “I don’t have anybody out. If I had somebody out, I’d tell you.”
Redshirt freshman Kaiya Sheron and sophomore Deuce Hogan are listed behind Levis on the depth chart. Neither has thrown a pass in a game this season.
Beamer talked about the Kentucky backups during a radio interview with ESPN Louisville earlier on Thursday.
“Looking at the quarterbacks on the roster, we got a feel for both of them,” Beamer said. “For us, it starts with stopping the run no matter who starts at quarterback for Kentucky. We got to do a great job stopping the run first and foremost.”
As far as USC’s injuries, offensive lineman Dylan Wonnum defensive backs Darius Rush and David Spaulding all practiced this week and will play against the Wildcats but that other guys such as defensive lineman Alex Huntley and Trai Jones are going to be questionable.
Beamer said having Rush and Spaulding back will be a big boost for the Gamecocks’ secondary. Rush has been out with a hamstring injury he suffered on Sept. 17. Spaulding hasn’t played since the opener after suffering a leg bruise against Georgia State on Sept. 3.
“Since the first drive of the Georgia state game we haven’t been healthy in the secondary,” Beamer said.
This story was originally published October 6, 2022 at 6:28 PM.
